Charging fees for using state-invested highways 'is appropriate'

The National Defense and Security Committee believes that collecting fees for using highways invested by the State helps people choose better services, without causing "overlapping fees".

The latest draft of the Road Law, which is being prepared for consultation with full-time National Assembly deputies (March 26-27), stipulates that tolls will be collected from vehicles traveling on expressways invested, owned, managed and operated by the State. These are routes with public investment and other forms of investment that have been transferred to the State after the contract ends.

According to the National Defense and Security Committee, this content is consistent with the National Assembly's policy on approving investment in expressways. People traveling on expressways will enjoy many benefits such as saving time, transportation costs, fuel, and vehicle depreciation. The tolls of these expressways will be consistent with the quality of service and based on the principle that "higher quality services must pay higher costs".

In addition, the expressways invested by the State all have parallel national highways, allowing road users to choose to use the expressway or national highway. Therefore, this regulation is appropriate and does not lead to overlapping fees. The Committee recommends that the drafting committee make stricter revisions and make them consistent with the provisions amending and supplementing the provisions of the Law on Fees and Charges.

Cam Lam - Vinh Hao Expressway, section entering the southern entrance of Nui Vung tunnel in Binh Thuan province, December 2023. Photo: Viet Quoc — Cam Lam - Vinh Hao Expressway, section entering the southern entrance of Nui Vung tunnel in Binh Thuan province, December 2023. Photo: *Viet Quoc*

Before drafting the Road Law, the Ministry of Transport had repeatedly proposed to collect tolls on some expressways invested by the State. In early May, the Ministry planned to collect tolls on 9 expressways, including: Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong; Cao Bo - Mai Son, Mai Son - National Highway 45, National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau, Cam Lo - La Son, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet, Phan Thiet - Dau Giay, My Thuan 2 Bridge.

The toll collection period for the above routes is expected to be 5 years, until there is a law on expressway toll collection. According to the previous proposal of the Ministry of Transport, in the period of 2021-2023, the average North-South expressway toll is 1,500 VND per vehicle per km; it will increase by 200 VND every two years until the period of 2030-2032; then it will increase by 300 VND every two years to 2,400 VND in the period of 2033-2035.

The Ministry of Transport said that the toll collection level must meet three principles: It must be consistent with the interests and affordability of users; after compensating for costs, the organization must ensure there is a surplus to balance the State budget; and it must be calculated for each specific section and route to suit the operating conditions and socio-economic conditions of each region.

Expressways invested by central and local budgets are divided according to the proportion of investment capital participating in the project. The collected amount is paid to the State budget and prioritized for investment, management, and maintenance of road traffic infrastructure, fulfilling the State's responsibility for road investment projects under the form of BOT contracts.

The Ministry of Transport believes that collecting tolls on state-invested highways will help increase budget revenue by mobilizing resources from highway users; contributing to creating funding sources for investment in developing the highway system. This money will also be used for highway management and maintenance, and will be a resource for implementing policies on developing transport infrastructure.

The draft Road Law was first commented on by the National Assembly at the 6th session at the end of 2023. It is expected that the bill will be considered and passed at the mid-year session.

Son Ha

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