HÀ NỘI  — Việt Nam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment Joint Stock Company (VIDFI), National Highway 5’s investor, has proposed a 10-per cent reduction in tolls for container trucks from next month.

The move aims to harmonise the benefits for road users, particularly transport companies, with the road builder’s and State’s budget, according to VIDFI.

The reduced tolls are also expected to encourage truck drivers to use the national highway instead of provincial roads, which run almost parallel to the highway but are free of charge.

Since April, cars with fewer than 12 seats and trucks with a load of less than two tonnes have paid VNĐ45,000 (US$2) per trip.

Trucks with a load of 10-18 tonnes and 20-foot container trucks pay VNĐ140,000 ($6.27) per trip.

Trucks with a load of 18 tonnes or more and 40-foot container trucks pay VNĐ200,000 ($8.96) per trip.

The tolls are 25 per cent higher than those imposed before April in order to generate funds for maintaining National Highway 5 and to reinvest in the Hà Nội–Hải Phòng Expressway Project, which was also developed by VIDFI under a Build-Operate-Transfer contract.

According to VIDFI, the reduction in tolls next month could cause financial difficulties for the company in maintaining the road and extending the time to recoup its investment in the Hà Nôi-Hải Phòng Expressway Project.

The company wanted no change to toll fees on the Hà Nội–Hải Phòng Expressway as since April, it has offered a temporary 35 per cent discount on tolls for trucks with a loading capacity of 18 tonnes or more and 40-foot container trucks (type 5).

After 2016, VIDFI will use data on traffic flow to request the Transport Ministry for a suitable adjustment of tolls for type 5 vehicles. Accordingly, the highest toll for type 5 trucks, applied from the intersection of Ring Road 3 to provincial road 356 (Đình Vũ), will be VNĐ760,000.

The company has asked for assistance from the government to overcome its financial difficulties.

Meanwhile, the prime minister approved a proposal by the finance ministry to lower toll fees for container trucks and trucks with loads over 10 tonnes on National Highway 1.

The decision took effect in the middle of this year and is one of the measures intended to help relieve the difficulties of transport companies in light of Government Resolution 35/NQ-CP on supporting enterprises, which is in effect until 2020.

Accordingly, trucks with loads of 10-18 tonnes and 20-foot container trucks will pay VNĐ120,000 per trip instead of VNĐ140,000 when using the national highway in the central provinces of Bình Định and Quảng Ngãi.

Trucks with a load of at least 18 tonnes and 40-foot container trucks would pay VNĐ180,000 per trip instead of VNĐ200,000. — VNS