Toll plazas on the Hà Nội-Hải Phòng Expressway on June 1, 2022. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội-Hải Phòng Expressway has started full electronic toll collection (ETC) on a trial basis, starting at 9am on June 1, according to the Directorate for Roads of Việt Nam.

Its aim is to reduce waiting time and congestion at toll plazas, as well as increase transparency compared to cash-based manual toll collection.

Preparations for the service on the expressway, including traffic control and response plans for different scenarios, have already been completed, Vũ Hữu Thành, Deputy General Director of the expressway manager – Việt Nam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment JSC (VIDIFI), told Vietnam News Agency.

He noted the ETC system has been used on this road for two years, and VIDIFI has managed to deal with many of the scenarios, adding that detailed response plans were built to handle different incidents in a timely manner and minimise inconvenience for motorists.

Bùi Thị Quỳnh, Deputy Director of VIDIFI’s Hà Nội-Hải Phòng Expressway Operation and Management Co Ltd, said VIDIFI had asked the ETC tag supplier to arrange more tag provision sites at the entrances and exits of this road. It will take only several minutes to complete the procedures.

There will still be staff available, including both on-site and support hotlines, to help with issues at the toll plazas.

Thành said nearly 90 per cent of the vehicles on the expressway have had ETC tags fitted, and over 70 per cent have used this service.

Vehicles without those tags or insufficient money in ECT accounts will be fined if they intentionally enter ETC lanes.

According to the Government’s Decree 123/2021/NĐ-CP, drivers of such vehicles will face fines ranging from VNĐ1-2 million (US$43-86) and have their driving licences withdrawn for between one to three months. — VNS