Why haven't the toll booths on National Highway 51 been dismantled yet?

The Ministry of Transport stated that it had previously responded to the National Assembly delegation of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province on this matter in August 2023.

Accordingly, the project to expand National Highway 51 from Km 0+900 to Km 73+600 under the BOT contract has not yet received approval for early termination to establish public ownership as stipulated in Government Decree No. 29/2018. Therefore, the dismantling of the BOT project assets, specifically the toll station on National Highway 51, has not been carried out.

Toll station T1, National Highway 51 (Image from the internet).

The Ministry of Transport also stated that in December 2023, it reported to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on the handling of the investor's request for the expansion project of National Highway 51, section from Km 0+900 to Km 73+600, under the BOT contract. Subsequently, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha directed the Ministry of Transport to continue addressing the investor's request in accordance with its functions, duties, and the signed contract.

By April 2024, the Ministry of Transport had submitted a document to the Ministry of Finance requesting the establishment of public ownership of the assets of the National Highway 51 expansion project, section from Km 0+900 to Km 73+600, under the BOT contract form.

In its response, the Ministry of Finance requested the Ministry of Transport and the investor to address the outstanding issues and complete the documentation so that the Ministry of Finance has sufficient grounds to provide an opinion on establishing public ownership of the assets of the BOT National Highway 51 project.

The Ministry of Transport then directed the Vietnam Road Administration, the contracting authority, and the investor to continue resolving outstanding issues regarding the BOT National Highway 51 project and complete all legal procedures as required.

"After completing the procedures for establishing state ownership in accordance with the law on public assets, the Vietnam Road Administration will promptly organize the dismantling and recovery of the toll station assets as requested by voters in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province," the Ministry of Transport said.

National Highway 51 (QL51) is 72 km long, passing through Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces. This road has been managed and operated by Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway Development Joint Stock Company (BVEC) since 2013. BVEC has established three BOT toll stations on this highway: T1, T2, and T3.

In early January 2023, the Vietnam Road Administration announced a temporary suspension of toll collection on the BOT National Highway 51 project, section from Km 0+900 to Km 73+600, passing through Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces, starting at 7:00 AM on January 13th, in order to negotiate adjustments to the toll collection period to generate profit with the project investor.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/vi-sao-chua-thao-do-cac-tram-thu-phi-บน-ql51-19224081915404719.htm