Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has requested the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to draft in co-ordination with other ministries and agencies detailed plans for congestion charges.
Ministries and localities will submit ideas on congestion charges
The plans must be submitted to the PM for consideration before being sent to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee, he required.
The MoT has been requested to work with the Ministry of Finance to compile ideas on the issue from localities and agencies, along with clarifying the purpose and feasibility of the charges.
The MoT, together with the Ministries of Justice, Public Security, Planning and Investment previously sought prime ministerial consideration on the issue.
In early 2012, the MoT sent a proposal to levy traffic fees on personal vehicles entering the city centre during rush hours.
Under the proposal, the highest fee for a car would be VND50 million (USD2,396) per year and VND1 million (USD47.93) per annum for a motorbike.
In addition to these fees, drivers of passenger cars with up to seven seats entering city centres during rush hours would also have to pay a charge of VND30,000 (USD1.43), with other kinds of vehicles being charged at VND50,000 (USD2.39).
Peak travel times have been set as being from 6-8.30 am and from 4-7 pm daily, excluding weekends.
In response to public controversy, Transport Minister Dinh La Thang said the move was expected to not only ease traffic congestion but raise funding for traffic infrastructure investment.
According to Thang, the proposal meets the Government and National Assembly’s resolutions on solutions to mitigate traffic jams and accidents, and restrain the use of personal vehicles.
