The Ministry of Transport is seeking opinions from ministries, agencies and localities nationwide for the fee increase of 12-18% for 37 build, operate and transfer (BOT) operated toll road or bridge projects.

Transport Ministry proposes fee hike for 37 BOT projects

The ministry cited a circular of the Ministry of Finance, saying that BOT projects’ fee rise roadmap is every three years. However, since May 2016, the ministry has not yet raised fees for 59 BOT across the country.

Among the proposed projects, the fee rise should have been applied for two last year, while the remaining 35 need to have higher fees this year. The fee hike will be for 10 projects in 2020 and for two projects in 2021. This will be imposed for other projects after 2021.

 The Ministry of Transport also added that contracts signed between the ministry and BOT project investors include articles on the fee adjustments.

 The ministry noted that up to 25 out of the 37 projects have seen lower than expected revenues. So without timely solutions, the projects would face bankruptcy.

 Earlier, under the Ministry of Transport’s suggestions, the BOT fees should be increased in the 2019-2020 period, prioritizing projects with the sharpest revenue decrease.

 The second solution is maintaining the current BOT fees temporarily and the fee rise for 49 projects initially scheduled to be carried out in the 2018-2021 period will be delayed after 2022.

However, the ministry warned that nine projects would go bankrupt and the government would have to provide VND3 trillion (USD130.43 million) to save them.

 The ministry, therefore, preferred the first solution, meaning that the government will not have to spend State budget to save BOT projects.