Will tolls be charged on state-invested highways?

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang reports on the incorporation of delegates' opinions regarding the draft Road Law - Photo: GIA HAN

In response to a delegate's request for clarification on the necessity of collecting tolls on expressways in addition to road tolls, the minister stated that the Ministry of Transport had studied and assessed the impact of collecting tolls on expressways.

According to him, state-invested expressways with parallel national highways allow road users to choose. Traveling on expressways offers many advantages due to time savings and reduced transportation costs.

The current road usage fee system does not differentiate between regular road users and expressway users.

The toll collection ensures a balance between the fee paid and the quality of service, based on the principle that users with higher quality services should pay higher fees. Users who do not use the toll highway have the right to choose the parallel route.

Therefore, the draft law has added provisions on toll collection for state-invested expressways. The toll rates will be determined to ensure the operating conditions of each area are appropriate to the quality of service. At the same time, it will ensure the state's investment is recouped to reinvest in infrastructure and cover annual maintenance costs.

Mr. Thang stated that the practice of collecting tolls on state-invested highways has been implemented by countries such as China, Japan, and the United States.

Toll collection on highways is necessary to ensure a balance of interests between the people and the State, especially given the limited budget of our country.

Mr. Thang stated that currently, road tolls based on the number of vehicles only meet 35% - 40% of maintenance needs. If the highway system were fully constructed and put into operation without collecting tolls, it would require enormous funds for maintenance, which would be very difficult.

Some argue that classifying organizations and individuals using information technology applications such as Grab, Be, etc., to facilitate connections between transportation service providers and passengers, and delivery services as passenger transportation by car, is inconsistent with the true nature of the business.

The Ministry of Transport stated that the draft law stipulates that the application of software to support road transport connectivity is a road transport support service, not a transport business activity.

Only if an organization or individual providing software services to support road transport connectivity performs at least one of the following functions: operating vehicles and providing driving services, or determining freight rates for passenger and goods transport on roads for profit, can it be considered a transport business.

Regarding the name of the Road Law, the minister proposed keeping it as in the draft. At the same time, taking into account the opinions of the delegates, Mr. Thang said he would coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to continue reviewing the two drafts of the Road Law and the draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety to avoid duplication.

The standards for expressways will be issued in the first quarter of next year.

Many delegates suggested that there should be general regulations for expressways. Delegates proposed that even if investment is phased, any section that is invested in must be synchronized and meet the required standards and specifications.

According to Mr. Thang, the draft law includes regulations on highway investment. Specific requirements for highways, including highways with phased investment, will be studied by the Ministry of Transport when issuing national standards on highway design.

According to the plan, the Government has assigned the Ministry of Transport to issue the expressway standards in the first quarter of next year.

According to TTO

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/se-thu-phi-cao-toc-do-nha-nuoc-dau-tu-20231124130119676.htm

Source