Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Transport NguyenVan The has affirmed that investors in Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contractswill have to stop collecting fees if they don’t install electronic tollcollection (ETC) systems by the end of this year.
The made the statement at a meeting to reviewthe progress of the installation of ETC systems held in Hanoi on March 6.
Regarding to the ETC under the Build-Own-Operate(BOO) format, the minister asked agencies under his management to complete allprocedures to sign contracts with the investor – a joint venture betweenthe VETC Vietnam Joint Stock Company and TASCO Joint Stock Company.
The also urged the Directorate for Roads of Vietnamto finish international bidding work to select investors for BOO projectsincluding toll stations on National Highway 1 and Ho Chi Minh Highway crossingthrough the Central Highlands.
He proposed agencies review and amend Circular49 on the organisation and operation of road toll booths, and amend Decree 46on penalties for administrative violations in the field of road and railtransport so that priority will be given to vehicles with ETC tags.
There are more than 3 million cars nationwidebut less than 1 million are equipped with E-tags.
To speed up the progress, The said the ministrywould submit a report to the Prime Minister suggesting all public vehiclesinstall E-tags. Accordingly, all public cars from central to local level had tocomplete by June 30.
The ministry will work with localities to figureout an E-tag that could travel through all stations to encourage them use ETCand increase the transparency for toll collection, he said.-VNA
VNA