Non-stop electronic toll fee collection has been applied at Hà Nội-Bắc Giang toll station since 2017. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Toàn

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has asked Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thể to report on the progress of applying non-stop electronic toll fee services nationwide before June 20.

The leader’s order aims to accelerate the application of electronic services and ensure transparency of toll collection.

The report must detail the progress of applying technology at every toll station, as well as difficulties and proposed punishments for those who delay the work.

During a Q&A session at the National Assembly last week, a deputy raised concerns that so far only 30 per cent of toll stations nationwide have non-stop toll collection services.

Minister Thể said the deadline for all tool booths across the country to install the systems is December 31. Toll booths will also add cameras to monitor traffic and revenues.

Once the electronic toll fee collection is applied, drivers will be able to top up their account through text or banking services to pay toll fees at Build-Operate-Transfer booths nationwide.

Each car will be given an electronic tag (e-tag) which is attached to the windscreen or lights. 

Through e-tags, the system will identify the vehicle and transmit its image and information to a data centre at high speed. Confirmation of the vehicle’s information and deduction of the required amount from the account will be almost immediate, so the barrier will lift without the vehicle having to stop. Electronic devices will also be used to supervise the entire toll collection process. 

More than 700,000 vehicles have been given e-tags, according to the transport ministry.

Minister Thể added that by the end of this year, vehicles which do not have e-tags or sufficient funds in their account will be asked to go through the manual toll lanes.

Waiting times due to traffic congestion at manual toll stations have delayed goods transportation and wasted fuel for drivers, not to mention the negative effects of emissions on the environment and the risk of traffic accidents. — VNS