Drivers being 'robbed' at airport highway tolls
By Wang Qingchu |
June 25, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
OVERCHARGING at road tolls on airport highways has been exposed as a widespread practice across the country, with the price as much as 3.75 times the local standard.
As often the only link to airports, the highways have become tools for fast money-making as vehicles are charged toll fees largely exceeding standards travelling to and from an airport, Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.
The airport highway in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, is less than 10 kilometers but charges 15 yuan (US$2.3) for each journey. The 1.5-yuan toll fee per kilometer is 3.75 times the provincial standard of 0.4 yuan per kilometer.
The toll fee for the 30-kilometer airport highway in Harbin, provincial capital of northeastern Heilongjiang Province, is 0.66 yuan, 45 percent more than the 0.45 yuan provincial standard.
"If you want to take a plane from Harbin, you have to accept being robbed by the highway operator," a local resident, surnamed Chen, said.
Zhang Weijun, an official of Heilongjiang Bureau of Commodity Prices, admitted the charge was "a bit high." Zhang said the bureau will hold hearings to lower the price.
The toll fee for the airport highway in Wuhan, capital of the central province of Hubei, was also found to be double the provincial limit.
The National Audit Office pointed out in 2006 that Wuhan airport highway overcharged 115 million yuan from 2002-05.
The overcharging seriously violated "the right of land users," said Gu Xiaoming, a professor of Fudan University. Gu suggested pricing should be calculated by a special department and supervision tightened.
Authorities of all levels around China were required to cut the number of toll gates and arbitrary charges, said a joint notice by the ministries of transportation, finance and supervision, the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Council Office for Rectifying Malpractices on June 21.
This came after a highway in Nanjing, capital of the eastern Jiangsu Province, was found collecting tolls double the standard. The operator raked in 2.8 billion yuan in 14 years, far exceeding its 980 million yuan investment.
As often the only link to airports, the highways have become tools for fast money-making as vehicles are charged toll fees largely exceeding standards travelling to and from an airport, Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.
The airport highway in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, is less than 10 kilometers but charges 15 yuan (US$2.3) for each journey. The 1.5-yuan toll fee per kilometer is 3.75 times the provincial standard of 0.4 yuan per kilometer.
The toll fee for the 30-kilometer airport highway in Harbin, provincial capital of northeastern Heilongjiang Province, is 0.66 yuan, 45 percent more than the 0.45 yuan provincial standard.
"If you want to take a plane from Harbin, you have to accept being robbed by the highway operator," a local resident, surnamed Chen, said.
Zhang Weijun, an official of Heilongjiang Bureau of Commodity Prices, admitted the charge was "a bit high." Zhang said the bureau will hold hearings to lower the price.
The toll fee for the airport highway in Wuhan, capital of the central province of Hubei, was also found to be double the provincial limit.
The National Audit Office pointed out in 2006 that Wuhan airport highway overcharged 115 million yuan from 2002-05.
The overcharging seriously violated "the right of land users," said Gu Xiaoming, a professor of Fudan University. Gu suggested pricing should be calculated by a special department and supervision tightened.
Authorities of all levels around China were required to cut the number of toll gates and arbitrary charges, said a joint notice by the ministries of transportation, finance and supervision, the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Council Office for Rectifying Malpractices on June 21.
This came after a highway in Nanjing, capital of the eastern Jiangsu Province, was found collecting tolls double the standard. The operator raked in 2.8 billion yuan in 14 years, far exceeding its 980 million yuan investment.
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