Two expressways expected to increase fees on September 1

Expected fee increase from 1.9

Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) has just informed the press that it will stop reducing fees for trucks of 10 tons or more and container trucks on the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressways.

It is expected that this will be applied from 0:00 on September 1.

Explaining this decision, VEC said: In 2016, implementing Resolution No. 35/NQ-CP of the Government on supporting and developing enterprises until 2020, VEC reduced fees by about 20% for group 4 vehicles (trucks from 10 tons to under 18 tons; 20-foot container trucks) and by about 25% for group 5 vehicles (trucks from 18 tons and above; 40-foot container trucks) on the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway.

For the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay highway, the fee is reduced by about 10% for group 4 and group 5 vehicles.

As of 2023, the discount policy for the above vehicles has been implemented for 7 years, contributing great value to society and to trucks traveling on highways.

The Cau Gie - Ninh Binh and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway projects were invested by VEC from international and domestic loans with government guarantees. VEC is responsible for repaying the loans to invest in the expressway. Therefore, VEC cannot continue to maintain the discount policy.

Therefore, continuing to maintain the above fee reduction policy is not consistent with the financial plan approved by the Ministry of Transport since 2016 (the fee for the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway is 1,500 VND/PCU (converted car unit)/km, and the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway is 2,000 VND/PCU/km).

Furthermore, continuing to reduce fees is also not consistent with the financial plan to combine cash flows of 5 expressway projects invested by VEC, which has been approved by the ministry...

Investors have the right to decide the price but not exceed the ceiling.

Faced with this information, many transport businesses expressed concern that the cost of production and business activities would increase. Mr. NVP (owner of a transport business) said that the current general economic situation is very difficult. While the prices of gasoline, oil, electricity, and water have all increased, now with the increase in road fees, businesses will have even more difficulty.

On the afternoon of August 9, speaking to reporters about this issue, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, said that VEC's strict implementation of Resolution 35 of the Government and helping transport businesses ease difficulties in the recent period was an effort.

“The toll reduction, which has been implemented for 7 years, is a remarkable effort by VEC. The Vietnam Automobile Transport Association shares the difficulties of VEC in reducing tolls for road users while still ensuring financial solutions for the project.

Regarding the specific adjustment level, we suggest that competent authorities consider it in a harmonious correlation with the fee levels of other projects and in accordance with relevant regulations of competent authorities," said Mr. Quyen.

Answering the question of whether it is appropriate to stop supporting at the present time when businesses in general and transport businesses in particular are facing difficulties in the economic recession?

Mr. Quyen admitted that transport businesses are also facing difficulties, however, investors who borrow capital to invest are also under pressure due to interest rates.

“This is a route where investors are entitled to decide on the price according to Decision 1202, dated September 10, 2007 of the Prime Minister. However, the fee must not be higher than the maximum fee prescribed in Circular 35/2016 of the Ministry of Transport.

Investors must carefully calculate the level of fee increase. Because these are routes where users have a choice and the competent state management agency will consider and give opinions," Mr. Quyen commented.

VEC plans to adjust new fees for group 4 and group 5 vehicles on the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressways from September 1.

Specifically: Group 4 vehicles traveling on the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway from Liem Tuyen to Cao Bo (or vice versa) will be adjusted from 88,000 VND to 108,000 VND. For Group 5 vehicles, the fee will increase from 133,000 VND to 173,000 VND.

Similar to the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, group 4 vehicles traveling from Long Phuoc to Dau Giay (or vice versa) will have a toll of VND250,000 instead of VND236,000 as at present. For group 5 vehicles, the toll will increase from VND373,000 to VND400,000.

According to Vietnamnet

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