The Highways Department confirmed that it will not renew the concession for the "Don Mueang Tollway" after a study found it was not worthwhile. The price increase will be allowed according to the contract on December 22. Meanwhile, the government's plan to take over the project after the concession ends in 2034 may reduce the price to 20 baht or provide free service. Mr. Sarawut Songsivilai, Director-General of the Department of Highways (DoH), revealed the progress of negotiations to reduce the impact on the public in the case of the Utraphimuk Elevated Tollway project or Don Mueang Tollway preparing to increase the toll price. He stated that after Don Mueang Tollway Public Company Limited (DMT), the concessionaire of the project, announced preparations to adjust the toll rate from December 22, 2024 according to the concession contract, which will result in the toll rate being as high as 170 baht. However, Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, has assigned the Dep artment of Highways to study ways to reduce toll fees in the project. The Department of Highways has set up a working group on July 3, 2024 to study the approach and feasibility through a comparison of the cost-effectiveness figures in all dimensions, both in the case of no toll increase, the case of an increase according to the original contract, and the projected number of vehicles that will use the project. It was found that the appropriate approach is not to negotiate to extend the concession contract any further because the study figures show that it is not worthwhile in any case. Therefore, the concession contract should be carried out as before and the concession contract should be completed in the next 10 years or in 2034 so that the project can be returned to government management. If this is the case, the government will be able to study a new toll structure. Mr. Sarawut also said that the ministry's goal is to consider appropriate approaches that are beneficial to the public. What are the approac hes to not raising toll fees or reducing toll fees? However, when the Department of Highways studied all approaches, it was found that they were not worthwhile because the Don Muang Tollway is one of the public's options for using the service during rush hour when traffic is congested, and Vibhavadi Rangsit Road is the main road providing service. If there is no negotiation to extend the concession to the private sector, the toll fee will increase according to the contract before the concession ends in 2034 and after that, all assets will immediately belong to the Department of Highways because under this contract, there will be no conditions requiring the Department of Highways to negotiate with the private sector to be the first to offer a contract extension. Therefore, the course of action is to open a new auction or the government will take the project back to manage itself/. Source: Thai News Agency