According to Project Management Unit 7 (Ministry of Construction), this debt stems from the state budget used to build the TP HCM - Trung Luong section. Between 2011 and 2018, tolls were collected on this section, and the right to collect tolls was sold, repaying approximately 2,391 trillion VND. However, 7,172 trillion VND remains outstanding. Since 2018, toll collection has ceased as per regulations (prohibiting tolls on state-invested roads), halting further repayment.

Traffic congestion on the old TP HCM - Trung Luong expressway section in Long An Province. Photo: Hoang Nam

The expansion project, encompassing both TP HCM - Trung Luong and Trung Luong - My Thuan sections, is being implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Resuming toll collection to repay the debt would impact the expansion plan. Project Management Unit 7 has proposed allocating public investment capital for the 2026-2030 period to settle the debt, separating the old state budget portion from the new project.

The TP HCM - Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway expansion project has a total investment of over 41,372 trillion VND, exceeding the initial estimate by over 1,500 trillion VND. It's being implemented under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.

Route of the TP HCM - Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway. Graphics: Dang Hieu

The project will upgrade the TP HCM - Trung Luong section from 4 to 8 lanes and the Trung Luong - My Thuan section from 4 to 6 lanes, adding emergency lanes, intelligent transportation systems, rest stops, and toll booths. Construction is expected to begin later this year and be completed in 2028.

Giang Anh