HCM CITY — A electronic toll collection (ETC) system will officially be put into operation at Phú Mỹ Bridge toll station in HCM City’s District 2 on Saturday.

During the first phase of the toll collection system, which does not require vehicles to stop, four of the eight lanes at the station will operate with the ETC system.

The remaining toll booths will continue to collect tolls manually until the second phase of investment.

The ETC system will automatically charge vehicles going through Phú Mỹ Bridge toll station according to the toll rate of the station.

The vehicles will need an electronic tag (e-tag) and an account for fee collection, similar to those used for prepaid mobile services.

The toll station’s investor, Phú Mỹ Bridge Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, said that vehicle owners must bring an ID card, passport or vehicle certification of ownership to register their accounts for automatic fee collection.

They can register at the Phú Mỹ Bridge toll station, VETC electronic toll collection company, or motor vehicle registration centres nationwide.

The Phú Mỹ Bridge toll station’s ETC system will be connected to an electronic toll collection system (ETC) at An Sương - An Lạc toll booths in Bình Tân District, and all toll booths will have ETC systems nationwide.

Phú Mỹ Bridge, which opened to traffic in September 2009 after four years of construction, connects the city’s District 2 with District 7, with total investment of more than VNĐ2 trillion (US$86 million).

The use of ETC at BOT toll stations is expected to reduce traffic congestion, save time and fuel for drivers, and reduce pollution as drivers will no longer have to stop their vehicles and pay fees manually. — VNS