Lang Son People’s Committee considers appraisal of cost estimates for toll collection equipment on Bac Giang-Lang Son expressway

(LSO) – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lang Son province Ho Tien Thieu on September 19 chaired a meeting to examine the appraisal of cost estimates for toll collection equipment on the Bac Giang-Chi Lang section of the Bac Giang-Lang Son expressway.

The section has a total length of over 63km, and it is expected to be put into operation on January 1, 2020.

The sub-project is designed with five toll stations and 34 toll gates. The main station is installed at Km104 in the northern province of Bac Giang, and the auxiliary one at Km 45 in Mai Sao commune, Chi Lang district, Lang Son province, while three others at Km 94+770 connecting to national road 37 of Bac Giang province, Km 81+140 connecting provincial road 242 in Huu Lung district, and Km 56 connecting national road 279 in Chi Lang district.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ho Tien Thieu speaks at the meeting.

According to directions of the National Assembly and the Government, all stations nationwide must conduct electronic toll collection (ETC) by December 31, 2019, including the Bac Giang-Lang Son expressway.

However, during the process of preparing for the installation of toll collection equipment, the cost estimation is abnormally high.

According to the Bac Giang-Lang Son BOT Joint Stock Company, the total installation cost for five stations is estimated at more than 297 billion VND (12.7 million USD) (averagely 8.7 billion VND each). Meanwhile, the cost for installing toll stations nationwide approved by the Directorate for Roads is estimated at about 4.5 billion VND per gate.

The plan for installing automated non-stop toll collection or mixed ETC and manual toll collection (MTC) between investors and Lang Son Department of Transport has yet been unified.

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ho Tien Thieu said six ETC gates and six mixed ones will be installed on the main route of the expressway.

The installation of the toll equipment must be conducted publicly, transparently and efficiently, he said.

Regarding the plan to estimate the equipment expenses, the official asked the provincial Department of Finance to proactively review this matter according to regulations and consult the provincial People’s Committee to set up a price appraisal council in September 2019 before submitting the final result to the People’s Committee.