The Ministry of Finance has agreed to reduce toll fees by 25-30 per cent for container trucks of over 18 tonnes and 40 feet on the HCM City – Trung Luong Expressway, according to the Ministry of Transport.

The decision came after the HCM City Cargo Transport Association and the city's Transport Department submitted multiple petitions protesting the fees.

The expressway links HCM City to Tien Giang Province.

Under the decision, container trucks would pay VND448,000-480,000 (US$21-23) instead of VND640,000 ($30.5).

The ministry has submitted the toll-fee reduction proposal to the Prime Minister for final approval.

The online VnExpress newspaper quoted Thai Van Chung, general secretary of the HCM City Cargo Association, as saying that the 25-30 per cent cut would be acceptable only temporarily.

He said the new toll fees affected container trucks of over 18 tonnes and 40 feet, while other container trucks still faced high toll fees.

Chung said the ministry should reduce toll fees by 50 per cent for all container trucks, which would help businesses overcome current economic difficulties and contribute to lowering inflation.

"The association will conduct further research and send another petition to the Ministry of Finance," he said.

According to the Department of Transport, many vehicles, especially container trucks, switched to National Highway 1A after the expressway began collecting tolls on February 25.

This led to overcrowding and more accidents on Highway 1A.

The Cuu Long Corporation for Management, Investment and Development of Traffic Infrastructure is responsible for collecting toll fees.

In addition, the Finance Ministry has decided to not set up a toll station on National Highway 1A (on the section that runs through Long An Province) to help recover capital for the 40-km HCM City – Trung Luong Expressway.

Source:  VNS