Anh Quan
Transport Minister Dinh La Thang takes the Q&A podium at the National Assembly session in Hanoi on November 18 - PHOTO: TTXVN
The minister fielded a host of questions from NA deputies, ranging from the transfer of expressway toll rights to foreign operators to the safety of transport projects, the collection of road tolls and the construction of small rural bridges.
While admitting to various problems, Minister Thang said positive changes have been made.
Toll right transfers
Deputy Nguyen Thi Hong Ha from Hanoi noted that the ministry is mulling ways to transfer expressway toll rights to private operators, including foreign investors. Ha wondered whether such right transfers could lead to toll collection periods being lengthened, affecting the interests of road users.
Thang said the cash-strapped transport sector considers such right transfers as a breakthrough to create new sources of capital for new projects.
“Currently, we have developed 524 kilometers of expressway, and if such roads are transferred to private operators, we will have funds for developing another 524 kilometers,” he said. The minister added that if this method continues, by 2020 Vietnam should have 2,000 kilometers of expressway.
Addressing the concern that toll fees might be raised beyond the control of authorities, Thang said winners of such rights would have to abide by the tariffs dictated by the Ministry of Finance. The HCMC-Trung Luong Expressway, for example, has been transferred for five years, and the operator still has to observe the approved toll rates, he said.
Transport restructuring
The minister observed that the transport sector is undergoing restructuring in many areas to improve efficiency and cut cost. In recent times, he said, the overland transport volume has been declining, offset by increasing market shares by waterway and airway transport, which is a good signal.
The local aviation industry has also sharpened its competitiveness by keeping fares low. “The highest airfare on the Hanoi-HCMC route is VND2.8 million (less than US$135), while the Phuket-Bangkok service in Thailand having the same distance costs US$230,” he gave a comparison.
Upon questions on the safety of transport projects following a fatal accident at the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Urban Railway project that killed one person a few weeks ago, Thang said the accident was regretful, and remedial measures are being taken.
“Safety always comes first when executing transport projects,” he is quoted as saying in Vnexpress.
Asked how to deal with the situation of many people in mountainous regions having to cross rivers and streams on a rope, with some fatalities having been reported, Thang said funds would be advanced from the State Budget to build bridges in such areas.
The Government has agreed on a project to build 186 small bridges by advancing 2015 budget for the scheme. By June next year, these bridges costing VND12 trillion will have been completed, he said.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
