Province pushes for early start to Da Lat, Nha Trang highway, higher public component

At a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday provincial authorities wanted the construction of the Nha Trang – Lien Khuong Expressway, scheduled to begin after 2030, advanced.

The 85-km build-operate-transfer highway was to be 50% funded by the government, but the province now wants the public component increased to 70%.

The provincial authorities told the PM that 50% public investment would make the project unfeasible since then the payback period for the private investors would be over 48 years.

This would affect the ability of investors and financial institutions to bring in funding, they said.

But if the public component is 70%, the toll collection period could be cut to 27 years, they added.

At present, National Highway 27C is the sole route connecting Nha Trang and Da Lat. This highway includes the 29-kilometer-long Khanh Le Pass, known for its winding and hazardous terrain, which often faces landslides during the rainy season.