China's Ministry of Transport published a draft amendment to the Highway Law for
public comment starting Sept 7. The draft notes the current law has been in
force since Jan 1, 1998 and that toll-road policy helped break sole reliance on
public finance and accelerated highway development, but some provisions no
longer match current needs. It highlights there is no clear institutional
raising for arrangement operation and maintenance funds after toll concessions
expire and says early expirations of tolls are approaching; the amendment aims
to prevent a funding gap for post-concession management and maintenance.
