Why has the toll collection stopped but the BOT toll station on Dong Nai Bridge, National Highway 51, not yet been dismantled?

TPO - Although the toll collection project has stopped, the toll stations are still located on two national highways, affecting traffic safety and aesthetics.

TPO - Although the toll collection project has stopped, the toll stations are still located on two national highways, affecting traffic safety and aesthetics.

The BOT projects to expand National Highway 51 through Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces, and the Dong Nai Bridge BOT project (Dong Nai province) have been inactive for the past 2-4 years. However, toll stations still remain (3 stations on National Highway 51 and 1 station on National Highway 1), causing traffic congestion, safety hazards, and unsightly appearances, despite repeated requests from local authorities to address these issues.

Toll station T1 - National Highway 51 BOT project.

According to the contract signed in 2009 between the Vietnam Road Administration and the investor of the BOT project to expand National Highway 51, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway Development Joint Stock Company (BVEC), the total toll collection period for the BOT project to expand National Highway 51 is 20.66 years. This includes: a toll collection period for capital recovery of approximately 16.66 years (from August 3, 2012 to March 27, 2029); and a toll collection period for profit generation of 4 years (from March 28, 2029 to March 28, 2033).

By the end of February 2017, the project's toll collection period for recouping investment was adjusted to 20 years, 6 months, and 11 days, i.e., from July 1, 2009, to January 12, 2030, plus 4 years of toll collection for profit generation.

By the end of 2018, due to some changes related to input factors and recommendations from the State Audit Office, the Vietnam Road Administration recalculated the toll collection period for profit generation and reduced it from 4 years to 9 months. From January 13, 2023, the BOT project to expand National Highway 51 temporarily suspended toll collection.

Consequently, the investor proposed suspending maintenance work and handing over the project assets to the Vietnam Road Administration by the end of January 2023.

On April 19, 2023, BVEC handed over 72.7km, including the road length and bridge lengths exceeding 25m, of the section from Km0+900 to Km73+600 of National Highway 51 to the Vietnam Road Administration. However, the investor has not yet handed over the operation building, toll collection equipment system, or other assets serving the project.

To ensure continuous management, maintenance, and operation of transport infrastructure assets, guarantee traffic safety, and protect and extend the lifespan of transport infrastructure assets, the Vietnam Road Administration has received the assets handed over by BVEC to carry out asset management, maintenance, and preservation work.

Regarding the outstanding issues in this BOT project, the Ministry of Transport has recently sent a document to the Ministry of Finance proposing the establishment of public ownership of the assets of the National Highway 51 expansion project, section Km0+900 - Km73+600, in Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces. This is to support competent state agencies in promptly organizing and implementing the management, maintenance, and exploitation of assets in accordance with regulations.

In the document, the Ministry of Transport stated that it had received a letter from the Delegation of National Assembly Deputies of Dong Nai province regarding a proposal to invest in repairing road infrastructure in Dong Nai province. This included a request for the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to expedite procedures for establishing public ownership of the assets of the National Highway 51 expansion project, section Km0+900 - Km73+600, in Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces under a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) contract.

The Dong Nai Bridge BOT project.

The Dong Nai Bridge BOT project, invested by Dong Nai Bridge Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company, was constructed in 2008 and includes the following components: Tan Van interchange, the new Dong Nai Bridge, the Vung Tau interchange, upgrading the old Dong Nai Bridge, and connecting access roads to the project.

To recoup the investment for this project, the investor set up a toll station on National Highway 1A, in Bien Hoa City (Dong Nai province). From the end of August 2020, the Dong Nai Bridge BOT toll station temporarily suspended toll collection.

Regarding the Dong Nai Bridge BOT project, the State Audit Office has recommended reducing the toll collection period from 18 years, 4 months, and 10 days as stipulated in the contract to 7 years, 8 months, and 16 days. The reason for shortening the period is due to the investor miscalculating traffic volume and incorrectly determining the total investment cost.

The Ministry of Transport has issued a decision establishing public ownership of the Dong Nai Bridge BOT project and assigning the Vietnam Road Administration to manage, use, and exploit the road infrastructure assets in accordance with regulations. The Vietnam Road Administration and Road Management Area 4 also manage the Dong Nai Bridge BOT project area.

However, despite having stopped collecting tolls for over four years, the Dong Nai Bridge BOT toll station has still not been dismantled. This structure is obstructing traffic, detracting from the aesthetics of the area, and posing a safety hazard, as several traffic accidents have already occurred there.

Manh Thang

Source: https://tienphong.vn/vi-sao-da-dung-thu-phi-nhung-chua-do-tram-bot-cau-dong-nai-quoc-lo-51-post1690303.tpo