Ongoing tolls on Sanshui bridge

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China has launched a year-long national campaign targeting profiteering highway tollbooths amid rising public outcry over the management of the country's toll-way system.

It was initiated by five central government departments on June 20th. But despite this, there are reportedly 20 highways still collecting such tolls.

Foshan Sanshui Bridge is one of them. Its owners are hoping for a delay in revoking the tolls which can currently be collected until 2048.

Foshan Sanshui bridge is an important transportation link. Construction started in 1993, with a license to collect fees until 2048. The 55-year fee period was approved by the Foshan city government which now hopes to implement an early buy-back. Its owner denied claims of profiteering.

Zhang Boliang, Director of Sanshui Transport Infrastructure Group, said, "We are performing under the regulations. The contract for a 55 year period of toll charges was approved by the provincial authority long before the latest law was levied."

Data shows that a local Foshan car owner pays one-way charges of 10 yuan, 20 yuan for return, 600 a month and 72-thousand for 12 months travel, and 70,000 for ten years. For 30 years, that number would swell to more than 2 million yuan.

A taxi driver said, "We are burdened from petrol prices. Now the highway toll is not within the annual ticket fees, our costs end up being higher than they should be."

According to an official poll, toll booths collected 1.45 billion yuan in unauthorized tolls. A Department of Transportation official said the campaign to close these booths will be carried out in four stages. The ! first st age will investigate thoroughly the general situation followed by strict action to remedy the issue.

Experts believe the latest crackdown on profiteering highway tolls will help lower overall costs for the country's logistics sector and stabilize prices in the long run.

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Editor:Shi Jierui |Source: CNTV.CN


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