Forced to stop BOT stations that do not install automatic toll collection systems

Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen, Director General of the General Department of Roads, informed that up to now, only 17/28 toll stations have installed non-stop toll collection systems. The newest station is the Dong Nai Bridge BOT station.

These 28 toll stations are located on Highway 1 and Ho Chi Minh Road. The General Department requires that the remaining 11 stations must be completed by March.

The Director of the General Department of Roads said that there are 88 toll stations nationwide. The Ministry of Transport manages 73 stations. Of these, 56 stations are collecting tolls, 17 stations have not yet collected tolls; 15 stations are managed by local People's Committees.

After completing the deployment of 28 stations on National Highway 1 and Ho Chi Minh Road, the General Department will urge all stations managed by both the Ministry of Transport and local authorities to install automatic toll collection. This must be completed in 2019 according to the Prime Minister's direction.

Mr. Huyen emphasized: "When the deadline comes, any toll station that does not implement automatic toll collection, we will request the Ministry of Transport to stop its operation. Only when the installation is completed will toll collection be resumed."

People think that manual toll collection in the past was not transparent.

The leaders of the General Department of Roads said that investors are delaying the installation of automatic toll collection because they are afraid of transparency. They cited the reason that only the Automatic Toll Collection Company Limited (VECT) has the exclusive right to provide this service, so the cost is high.

However, the Ministry of Transport has now approved a new supplier to ensure competition. This company is completing the procedures to apply for investment and bidding.

The General Department’s leaders said that many people are concerned that the automatic toll collection unit is “stealing” money from BOT investors. However, when installing the system, the contract between the BOT investor and the toll collection unit will have a clause that the toll money must be transferred immediately at the end of the day.

In addition, the toll collection unit must have a deposit equal to at least 3 days of toll collection; when fraud occurs, the toll collection unit will automatically be fined dozens of times...

“Installing automatic toll collection helps vehicles pass through the station faster, reduces congestion, and eliminates the need to print tickets. The most important thing is to help with transparent management at the stations,” Mr. Huyen affirmed.

17 toll stations have deployed VETC automatic non-stop toll lanes (phase 1) including: Hanoi Bac Giang Expressway Station (Bac Ninh); Tan De (Thai Binh); My Loc (Nam Dinh); Hoang Mai (Nghe An); Quan Hau and Tasco Quang Binh (Quang Binh); Phu Bai, Bac Hai Van (Hue); Hoa Phuoc, Tam Ky (Quang Nam); Tu Nghia (Quang Ngai); Toan My 14 (Dak Nong); Duc Long 1, Duc Long 2 (Gia Lai); Ben Thuy 1 and 2 (Nghe An) and Dong Nai Bridge Station.