The government has stopped collecting the toll at Thangon Bridge over the Nam Ngum River in Xaythany district, Vientiane after the debt for its construction has been fully repaid to the bank.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued an announcement on the end of toll on August 8 and it came into effect on August 16.
Minister and Head of the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Phet Phomphiphak recently told local media the government had confirmed the Thangon Bridge toll would cease starting from 4pm on Tuesday due to the bridge construction debt having been fully paid to the Bank of the Lao PDR.
The government has transferred surplus revenue from fee collections into State Treasury to be used on necessary expenditure.
“The government has added the bridge toll to a road maintenance fund according to an agreement in 2011, and bridge repairs will use this money in the future, he added.
The collection of bridge tolls started several years ago, with cars, trucks and other heavy vehicles charged. But the government has stopped collecting bridge tolls in 29 locations nationwide in 2011 in a bid to facilitate the movement of vehicles and freight within the country. The government continued to collect the toll at Thangon Bridge due to the remaining debt.
Thangon Bridge was the first BOOT (build, own, operate, transfer) project to be built in Laos.
It is located about 25km north of the capital and construction of the bridge began in October, 1993 and it was opened in July, 1994.
Source: Vientiane Times
