The Ministry of Transport (MoT) had decided to stop collecting tolls from build-operate-transfer (BOT) roads that had quickly fallen into disrepair after opening (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry ofTransport (MoT) had decided to stop collecting tolls frombuild-operate-transfer (BOT) roads that had quickly fallen into disrepair afteropening.
The action taken by Transport Minister Nguyen VanThe has been applauded by experts and drivers whose money is going straightinto the pockets of BOT investors.
Several BOT highways have raised public concernafter experiencing problems even in their trial periods.
For example, a section of the Da Nang-Quang NgaiExpressway funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) wasopened to traffic in August last year, but after 14 months of operation, cracksand holes have appeared on the road surface.
The damage has caused risks for vehiclestraveling at high speeds on the expressway.
The minister has asked the Vietnam ExpresswayCorporation (VEC) – the investor – to stop collecting tolls on the road untilthe damage is repaired. Toll collections would resume 16 days after repair workwas completed.
A BOT project to upgrade and widen asection of road on the National Highway in Binh Dinh province has also been hitwith the same sanctions.
The 28.6km road was completed in May 2016 butlocal people and authorities have already lodged complaints about the projectquality.
The investor was forced to halt toll collectionsat Bac Binh Dinh Toll Station on the National Highway.
The minister has asked expressway corporationsand project management boards to inspect projects and repair any damage.
Economic expert Nguyen Minh Phong said that “theauthority’s decision to stop toll collections on roads that were damaged andhad not been repaired by investors was correct and necessary.”
“The BOT roads have been badly damaged but keepcollecting fees in a direct violation of the legitimate interests of thepeople,” Phong said.
“In other words, the people were"pickpocketed" in open. They were not offered good services but stillhad to pay as usual. It’s unacceptable,” he added.
Former director of the State AssessmentDepartment for Construction Works (under the Ministry of Construction) Tran Chungsaid management authorities should establish why the roads had been damaged aswell as the consequences to the whole road.
According to Chung, no matter what the damageis, the investors should take all responsibilities due to loose monitoring andinspections.
In some recent cases, investors had beenunwilling to deal with the problems, he said.
He supported the MoT’s move to punish staffinvolved in low quality road projects.
President of Hanoi’s Automobile Association BuiSinh Quyen has also applauded the MoT’s decision. “This was a necessary move todeter irresponsible investors,” Quyen said.
Collecting tolls on damaged roads was contraryto business principles, he added.
Additionally, investors who refused or justpatched up damaged roads would have to take responsibility, even criminalaction, for accidents relating to the quality of roads, Quyen said.
However, Quyen was unsure how many roads wouldbe sanctioned under the decision, how the ministry would monitor itsprogress and whether the losses from halt to toll collections would beborne by the investors or added to the duration of the project.
According to experts, the MoT should listen todrivers because they are the ones who pay the tolls.-VNA
The action taken by Transport Minister Nguyen VanThe has been applauded by experts and drivers whose money is going straightinto the pockets of BOT investors.
Several BOT highways have raised public concernafter experiencing problems even in their trial periods.
For example, a section of the Da Nang-Quang NgaiExpressway funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) wasopened to traffic in August last year, but after 14 months of operation, cracksand holes have appeared on the road surface.
The damage has caused risks for vehiclestraveling at high speeds on the expressway.
The minister has asked the Vietnam ExpresswayCorporation (VEC) – the investor – to stop collecting tolls on the road untilthe damage is repaired. Toll collections would resume 16 days after repair workwas completed.
A BOT project to upgrade and widen asection of road on the National Highway in Binh Dinh province has also been hitwith the same sanctions.
The 28.6km road was completed in May 2016 butlocal people and authorities have already lodged complaints about the projectquality.
The investor was forced to halt toll collectionsat Bac Binh Dinh Toll Station on the National Highway.
The minister has asked expressway corporationsand project management boards to inspect projects and repair any damage.
Economic expert Nguyen Minh Phong said that “theauthority’s decision to stop toll collections on roads that were damaged andhad not been repaired by investors was correct and necessary.”
“The BOT roads have been badly damaged but keepcollecting fees in a direct violation of the legitimate interests of thepeople,” Phong said.
“In other words, the people were"pickpocketed" in open. They were not offered good services but stillhad to pay as usual. It’s unacceptable,” he added.
Former director of the State AssessmentDepartment for Construction Works (under the Ministry of Construction) Tran Chungsaid management authorities should establish why the roads had been damaged aswell as the consequences to the whole road.
According to Chung, no matter what the damageis, the investors should take all responsibilities due to loose monitoring andinspections.
In some recent cases, investors had beenunwilling to deal with the problems, he said.
He supported the MoT’s move to punish staffinvolved in low quality road projects.
President of Hanoi’s Automobile Association BuiSinh Quyen has also applauded the MoT’s decision. “This was a necessary move todeter irresponsible investors,” Quyen said.
Collecting tolls on damaged roads was contraryto business principles, he added.
Additionally, investors who refused or justpatched up damaged roads would have to take responsibility, even criminalaction, for accidents relating to the quality of roads, Quyen said.
However, Quyen was unsure how many roads wouldbe sanctioned under the decision, how the ministry would monitor itsprogress and whether the losses from halt to toll collections would beborne by the investors or added to the duration of the project.
According to experts, the MoT should listen todrivers because they are the ones who pay the tolls.-VNA
VNA
