The prime minister has ordered the relevant ministries and departments and the local governments to stop those investors declining to install electronic toll collection (ETC) systems at their build-operate-transfer (BOT) road toll stations from collecting fees from motorists, the local media reported.
The move is intended to speed up the long-delayed installation of ETC systems at BOT road tollgates.
The Ministry of Transport and relevant departments and agencies as well as local authorities have deployed non-stop fee collection at many tollgates. However, a number of BOT road investors have refused to set up ETC equipment.
The switch to automated toll collection on BOT roads and bridges will create favourable conditions for road users and guarantee transparency. The prime minister has asked the Ministry of Transport, provinces and cities, and the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises to promptly take action to make sure that all BOT road tollgates will have ETC systems in place as scheduled.
The telegram asked the investors of BOT projects nationwide to ensure they meet the December 31 deadline.
In addition, the ministry must inspect ETC systems to timely detect any technical glitches.
The ministry was also told to ensure all vehicles using BOT tollgates are labeled with e-tags for automatic toll payments.
Besides this, the ministry was asked to collaborate with provincial and city authorities to impose harsh penalties on drivers who use the wrong lanes, causing traffic jams and disturbing security at tollgates.
In addition, the prime minister asked the State Bank of Vietnam to direct commercial banks to facilitate bank account connections for road users.
The country has 61 BOT road and bridge tollgates managed by the Ministry of Transport, but VETC Joint Stock Company is the only supplier of ETC systems. BOT investors have voiced concern over the absence of competition and transparency in non-stop toll collection.
