Fees to be reduced for 54 BOT projects nationwide

After reviewing and submitting a proposal, if the Ministry of Transport considers and approves, the stations will proceed to reduce fees in November.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen - General Director of the General Department of Roads - said that the General Department is stepping up the review of 54 BOT projects managed by the Ministry of Transport nationwide, and at the same time negotiating with investors to adjust financial plans in the direction of reducing fees for people in the affected areas of toll stations as well as reducing general fees for vehicles.

It is expected that the negotiation and review will be completed in October so that the General Department can send a proposal to the Ministry of Transport for approval. If approved, the stations will reduce the fees in November.

According to Mr. Huyen, most of the 54 projects managed by the ministry will have their fees reduced, except for a few stations with very low traffic volumes. However, the specific reduction level for each station will be different and will be officially finalized after the review and negotiation process is completed.

The Phap Van - Cau Gie BOT station is expected to reduce fees from October 15 after being approved by the Ministry of Transport.

Confirming the same information, the leader of the Board of Management of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects, Ministry of Transport said that the Ministry of Transport plans to reduce fees for people living around all toll stations managed by the ministry and reduce general fees for all groups of vehicles at some stations.

In the immediate future, the BOT Phap Van - Cau Gie project has completed negotiations with the General Department of Roads on a plan to reduce fees by 22-25% for all vehicle groups and proposed to the Ministry of Transport for decision on September 22. Fee reduction will start on October 15.

The reason for the reduction in the above fee was given by the General Department of Roads because during the inspection, the unit found that the traffic volume at Phap Van - Cau Gie station increased rapidly, with high revenue. In addition, the General Department of Roads of Vietnam also requested the Ministry of Transport to assign specialized agencies of the Ministry of Transport to adjust the financial plan and adjust the investment project contract to upgrade the Phap Van - Cau Gie route accordingly.

In addition to this project, there will be at least two other projects that will reduce general fees for all vehicles, but they are currently in the negotiation stage. Regarding the two toll stations on Highway 5, the PPP representative said that the fee adjustment (if any) is under the Government's decision-making authority.

Previously, the leader of Vidifi - the investor of the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway project and also the unit implementing toll collection at two BOT stations on National Highway 5 affirmed that the project was established with the goal of promoting the development of the Red River Delta and is completely non-profit and Vidifi is collecting tolls for the state, not for itself.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pham Van Khoi - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Phuong Thanh Transport Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company (investor of the BOT Phap Van - Cau Gie route) - said that it is expected to reduce the fee from October 15 after being approved by the Ministry of Transport. Accordingly, vehicles with less than 9 seats traveling the entire 28km route will be reduced from VND45,000/trip to VND35,000/trip.

In recent times, people in many localities have reacted to BOT toll stations by using small change or intentionally causing traffic jams to force the stations to close.

Along with the fee reduction, the toll collection period is expected to remain unchanged and last for about 17 years, and by 2021, this route will increase the fee again at 18%, the following roadmap will increase the fee every 3 years.

In recent times, people in many localities have reacted to BOT toll stations by using small change or intentionally causing traffic jams to force the stations to be opened. Most recently, people living next to Dai Yen toll station (Quang Ninh) expressed their opposition because this project has bad roads and high fees.

The provincial Department of Transport has proposed 100% exemption for people living within 4km from the two ends of the toll station and a 70% reduction for people whose registered residence is 4-8km from the toll station. Meanwhile, representatives of the Vietnam Transport Association are proposing to remove two toll stations on National Highway 5.

According to VOV