From December 1, 2024, 7 wards of Cua Lo town (old) and 4 communes of Nghi Loc district will officially merge into Vinh city. People here want to enjoy the free policy through Ben Thuy 1 toll station like Vinh city people. However, this request was not accepted.

Mr. Dang Tien Trung (born in 1986, residing in Cua Lo town) was upset: "For many years, Vinh city residents have been exempted from paying to go through Ben Thuy 1 station. We have just merged, are also citizens of Vinh city but still have to pay. We have made a request but the business side has not accepted".

On February 14, speaking with VietNamNet reporters, a representative of the Vinh City bypass BOT branch (under Cienco 4 Group) said that the unit had requested the Vietnam Road Administration not to reduce prices at Ben Thuy 1 station for vehicles of people and businesses in 7 wards (Nghi Hai, Nghi Hoa, Nghi Huong, Nghi Thu, Nghi Thuy, Nghi Tan, Thu Thuy) and 4 communes (Nghi Thai, Nghi Phong, Nghi Xuan, Phuc Tho) newly merged into Vinh City.

The Vietnam Road Administration then sent a document to the People's Committees of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces to agree on this content.

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Ben Thuy 1 Bridge toll station connecting Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. Photo: Thien Luong

Explaining this, a representative of the Vinh City bypass BOT branch said that since the North-South expressway was built, the revenue of Ben Thuy 1 toll station has decreased by half.

"Previously, when the North-South Expressway was not yet in operation, the daily revenue was 1 billion VND. After the expressway was put into operation, the revenue was halved. If the fee is exempted for the people of Cua Lo and 4 communes, the revenue will be affected. We hope that the people will share this difficulty," said a representative of the BOT branch of the Vinh City bypass.

In addition, according to regulations, the discount for vehicles only applies within a 5km radius around the station, or 10km for special projects. Meanwhile, Cua Lo and 4 communes in Nghi Loc district are too far from the station.

"In 2017, the Ministry of Transport stipulated that when reducing tolls at toll stations, it is necessary to ensure financial plans, scope and distance of the discount. The normal distance is not more than 5km, except in special cases where the discount is for 10km. Through the survey, Cua Lo and 4 communes all exceed this distance," added a representative of the BOT branch of Vinh City bypass.

This representative also said that people can choose to travel through Cua Hoi bridge at a short distance and without paying a fee.

Previously, in 2017, people protested against Ben Thuy 1 toll station because they thought they did not use the Vinh City bypass but still had to pay the fee. After that, the authorities and the investor agreed to reduce 100% of the fee for vehicles of Vinh City, Hung Nguyen District (Nghe An), Hong Linh Town and Nghi Xuan District (Ha Tinh).

The BOT project of National Highway 1 bypass through Vinh City invested by Cienco 4 Group, 25.8km long with a total investment of 378 billion VND, collecting tolls to recover capital at Ben Thuy 1 station. In 2012, Ben Thuy 2 bridge was completed, the investor continued to collect additional tolls at Ben Thuy 2 bridge station, and at the same time implemented the project of expanding National Highway 1 section south of Ben Thuy - avoiding Ha Tinh City.

The new project is over 35km long, with a total investment of over VND2,430 billion. The investor continues to collect tolls to recover capital at Ben Thuy 1 and 2 stations. According to information from Cienco 4, the expected toll collection period is over 29 years (from 2005). The average monthly revenue through these two stations is about VND20 billion. The remaining collection period is expected to be over 10 years.