Toll collection at Meuangkao-Pakkanhoung bridge below target
Toll collection at Meuangkao-Pakkanhoung bridge below target
Fee collection at the new bridge across the Nam Ngum River from Meuangkao (Chomcheang village) to Pakkanhoung village in Vientiane province has failed to meet the target set by the private company responsible for its construction.
While the toll fees have reached over 10 million kip per day this has failed to meet the target required due to the small number of travellers crossing the bridge at the moment, the developer said.
“Although we collect over 10 million kip per day after the start of services a few months ago, this has failed to meet our target because the number of travellers crossing the river every day is not that great and our fees are not so high,” Maliny Group Company Ltd. President and CEO Mr Phoutsadou Inthavong told Vientiane Times last week.
He said travellers crossing the river by ferry services had to pay 20,000 kip for light vehicles during the daytime, which had been increased to 40,000 kip in the past.
Today motorcycles crossing the Meuangkao-Pakkanhoung bridge will pay 2,000 kip in toll fees, pick-ups and cars will pay 15,000 kip while pedestrians and cyclists are free.
In addition, crossing the river by ferry was inconvenient and caused delays for passengers and goods transportation but the new bridge meant a quicker alternative.
The bridge will play an important part in connecting the northern and southern parts of Laos without the need to pass through Vientiane.
However, some local travellers have complained about the price of the toll.
Mr Phoutsadou said the company is now facing a deficit and has had to carry the burden alone by using income from other businesses to cover the shortfall.
However the company intends to raise the issue with the government in an effort to find a solution.
This was the first bridge built through private investment. It was constructed by Maliny Group Company based on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement, so the company hopes this project will serve as a model for others in Laos, Mr Phoutsadou said.
The construction of the 11 metre-wide bridge began in early 2012 and four companies from Laos, China, Vietnam, and Thailand were hired to carry out the contract works.
The company received a 38-year operation concession and the cost of construction of the 264-metre bridge exceeded 130 billion kip.
An official opening ceremony for the bridge will take place next month, according to the developer.
vientiane times
