Investors are requesting an increase in toll fees at the two Ben Thuy BOT toll stations.

The investor explained that the reason for the fee increase was to ensure that the majority of the project's expenses, such as maintenance, operation, toll collection management, and principal and interest payments to banks according to the signed credit agreement, were covered, and to avoid a significant imbalance in capital resources.

Ben Thuy Bridge toll station. Photo: Dam Phuong

Currently, Cienco4 is collecting tolls according to the rates stipulated in Circular No. 51/TT-BTC dated April 24, 2014, and Circular No. 255/2016/TT-BTC dated November 11, 2016, of the Ministry of Finance, and is offering a 100% fee reduction for vehicles of types 1 and 2 owned by residents of the four districts adjacent to the toll station (Vinh City, Nghi Xuan, Hong Linh town, and Hung Nguyen).

Based on the agreement in the contract and the regulations in Circular No. 35/2016/TT-BGTVT dated November 15, 2016 of the Ministry of Transport on the maximum price for road usage services, Cienco4 requests the Ministry of Transport to approve the adjustment to increase the road usage fee at Ben Thuy 1 and Ben Thuy 2 toll stations from January 1, 2019 according to the agreed schedule.

Specifically, currently, the toll fee for vehicles with fewer than 12 seats, trucks with a load capacity of less than 2 tons, and public passenger buses, which is currently 40,000 VND/trip, will be adjusted to 47,000 VND/trip; vehicles with 12-30 seats, and trucks with a load capacity from 2 tons to less than 4 tons will be charged 89,000 VND/trip (the old rate was 75,000 VND/trip); trucks with a load capacity from 10 tons to less than 18 tons, and 20-foot container trucks will be charged up to 142,000 VND/trip (the current rate is 120,000 VND/trip). For vehicles with a load capacity of 18 tons or more, and vehicles carrying 40-foot containers, the fee is 212,000 VND, an increase of 32,000 VND compared to the previous rate of 180,000 VND per trip.