Will open to traffic as planned

This is the assertion of Mr. Dao Van Chien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Infrastructure Development and Financial Investment Corporation (Vidifi) - investor of the Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway Project invested in the form of BOT, 105.5 km long, 6 lanes, designed and built according to the highest standards in Vietnam - in terms of technical opening time, with tolls for the 22.7 km long road in the city. Hai Phong.

The last meters of asphalt concrete carpet of the first section of the route are about to be opened to traffic. Photo: A.M

According to a reporter from the Investment Newspaper, until the afternoon of May 13, the last meters of asphalt concrete carpet of the 22.7 km section of the route were located in the city. Hai Phong (the section from the intersection with National Highway 10 to the intersection with Provincial Road 353 - Pham Van Dong street) is being urgently completed by contractors under the close supervision of supervision consultants and staff of the investor.

Applying the latest road construction technology, the top asphalt concrete layer of the Project's road surface structure includes a 5cm layer of smooth asphalt concrete using polymer resin and a roughness layer to ensure an operating speed of 120 km/h.

Vidifi is also directing contractors to construct auxiliary packages to quickly complete the system of signs, traffic safety equipment, lighting, toll stations..., to be able to welcome the first motor vehicles running on the route from the second half of May 2015. "The official opening ceremony for the first section of the project will be held around the beginning of June 2015," Vidifi leaders said.

Thus, after exactly 7 years of construction, Vidifi is about to enjoy the first results. This is a project that has received great expectations from the Government and investors, because when completed, this expressway will greatly shorten travel time (for cars) between the Northern provinces (Hanoi to Hai Phong - Dinh Vu Port from 2 hours to 53 minutes; Hanoi to Ha Long from 3.5 hours to 1 hour 10 minutes), contributing to reducing traffic accidents, reducing costs and transportation time.

To encourage vehicles to travel on sections of the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway, Vidifi proposed to apply a standard toll of 1,500 VND/km/vehicle, similar to the toll currently collected on the Noi Bai - Lao Cai, Ben Luc - Long Thanh and Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressways (4-lane section).

From 2016, Vidifi will apply revenue according to the financial plan approved by the Prime Minister. According to the project's financial plan appraised by the Ministry of Transport, the toll fee is 2,000 VND/km/standard vehicle.

When moving the section from the intersection of Highway 10 to the intersection with Pham Van Dong street, City. In Hai Phong, the operation organization will coordinate with the Traffic Police Department (C67) - Ministry of Public Security and related units to organize checks on vehicle load and speed of vehicles when participating in traffic on the highway with mobile load weighing stations arranged on the route, to improve the efficiency of vehicle load control, while preventing the phenomenon of vehicles speeding and avoiding the load weighing station.

Financial problem solved

Currently, the cumulative implementation progress of 11 main construction and installation packages reaches about 90% of the contract volume. This is the basis for the investor to complete the Prime Minister's direction: in May 2015, the 22.7 km long route within the city will be opened to traffic, put into temporary operation and collected toll fees. Hai Phong; July 2015 put into operation the section from the intersection with Pham Van Dong Street, City. Hai Phong to the intersection with National Highway 39 in Hung Yen province; By the end of 2015, the entire route will be put into operation.

Mr. Chien also said that the Prime Minister has also approved a number of policy mechanisms to support investors so that the project's total investment, updated in 2014, is VND 45,487 billion, ensuring financial feasibility with a payback period of 30 years.

Specifically, at the meeting of the Standing Government on May 8, 2015, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung agreed to switch to the form of direct State investment for a loan of 200 million USD from the Export-Import Bank of Korea; there is appropriate conversion or support for the $100 million loan from the German Reconstruction Bank (Kfw); The State supports the cost of compensation for site clearance and resettlement of the Project (about 3,700 billion VND).

In addition, Vidifi is also allowed to use land use fees and land rents payable from urban areas and industrial parks according to Decision 1621/QD-TTg dated November 29, 2007 as a source of investment return (about VND 7,890 billion). In total, with 3 supports, the State has directly participated in the project of about 18,000 billion VND, helping to significantly reduce the burden on investors.

"We are actively negotiating the transfer of 70% of the BOT contract value with Indian partners through the establishment of a joint stock company to manage and operate the route, in which Vidifi owns 30% of the charter capital. Vidifi will invest all of the capital collected in another expressway project," Mr. Chien said.

Source: Anh Minh (baodautu.vn)