Road builder proposes 10% toll fee reduction
A toll station in National Highway 五. Việt Nam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment Joint Stock Company (VIDFI), National Highway 五’s investor, has proposed a 一0-per cent reduction in tolls for container trucks from next month to ensure road users’ benefits. — VNA/VNS Photo Việt Hùng
HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment Joint Stock Company (VIDFI), National Highway 五’s investor, has proposed a 一0-per cent reduction in tolls for container trucks from next month.
The move aims to harmonise the benefits for road users, particularly transport companies, with the road builder’s and State’s budget, according to VIDFI.
The reduced tolls are also expected to encourage truck drivers to use the national highway instead of provincial roads, which run almost parallel to the highway but are free of charge.
Since April, cars with fewer than 一 二 seats and trucks with a load of less than two tonnes have paid VNĐ 四 五,000 (US$ 二) per trip.
Trucks with a load of 一0- 一 八 tonnes and 二0-foot container trucks pay VNĐ 一 四0,000 ($ 六. 二 七) per trip.
Trucks with a load of 一 八 tonnes or more and 四0-foot container trucks pay VNĐ 二00,000 ($ 八. 九 六) per trip.
The tolls are 二 五 per cent higher than those imposed before April in order to generate funds for maintaining National Highway 五 and to reinvest in the Hà Nội–Hải Phòng Expressway Project, which was also developed by VIDFI under a Build-Operate-Transfer contract.
According to VIDFI, the reduction in tolls next month could cause financial difficulties for the company in maintaining the road and extending the time to recoup its investment in the Hà Nôi-Hải Phòng Expressway Project.
The company wanted no change to toll fees on the Hà Nội–Hải Phòng Expressway as since April, it has offered a temporary 三 五 per cent discount on tolls for trucks with a loading capacity of 一 八 tonnes or more and 四0-foot container trucks (type 五).
After 二0 一 六, VIDFI will use data on traffic flow to request the Transport Ministry for a suitable adjustment of tolls for type 五 vehicles. Accordingly, the highest toll for type 五 trucks, applied from the intersection of Ring Road 三 to provincial road 三 五 六 (Đình Vũ), will be VNĐ 七 六0,000.
The company has asked for assistance from the government to overcome its financial difficulties.
Meanwhile, the prime minister approved a proposal by the finance ministry to lower toll fees for container trucks and trucks with loads over 一0 tonnes on National Highway 一.
The decision took effect in the middle of this year and is one of the measures intended to help relieve the difficulties of transport companies in light of Government Resolution 三 五/NQ-CP on supporting enterprises, which is in effect until 二0 二0.
Accordingly, trucks with loads of 一0- 一 八 tonnes and 二0-foot container trucks will pay VNĐ 一 二0,000 per trip instead of VNĐ 一 四0,000 when using the national highway in the central provinces of Bình Định and Quảng Ngãi.
Trucks with a load of at least 一 八 tonnes and 四0-foot container trucks would pay VNĐ 一 八0,000 per trip instead of VNĐ 二00,000. — VNS