Business
Improper toll stations under scrutiny
  • | dtinews.vn | January 29, 2011 09:07 AM

The prime minister has decided to step up oversight of improper toll stations nationwide.

Toll booths too close together have created public resentment

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has singled out three tolling stations for closure, and put a hold on three others to take effect after the Tet holiday. The decision came after proposals by the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Finance on the issue.

Earlier, the Ministry of Transport proposed the government halt operations of toll stations with revenues of less than VND10 billion (USD500,000), as well as those whose mandate had expired.

There has been growing public resentment over the number and proximity of toll stations.

The PM’s decision said toll stations in Viet Tri in northern Phu Tho province, Cau Ho in northern Bac Binh province, and another in northern Quang Ninh province would have to be closed. These stations are close to other stations or have modest revenues.

Dung also put a hold on three tolling stations at Yen Thanh on National Highway No. and Hoang Linh on National Highway No. 8 in addition to another on National Highway No. 14.

The ministry recommended that a fund of VND7.655 billion (USD382,750) be set up to provide for unemployment benefits and vocational training for staff of the above six stations who will lose their jobs.

In order to simplify procedures, the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam has proposed that the Ministry of Transportation charge a vehicle registration fee instead of tolling individual motorists.

The directorate suggested that accurate calculations be made of the number of vehicles per month on any given road in order to raise the appropriate revenue.

Currently, with over 1.2 million cars, Vietnam is expected to collect approximately VND2.5 trillion (USD225 million) per year.

Under the plan, a motorbike would be charged VND80,000 per year on average, while the tolls for larger vehicles works out to be about VND100,000 to VND150,000 each year.

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