Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – The implementation of the new electronic tollcollection (ETC) system, designed to reduce delays on the nation’s roads, hasbecome controversial as private investors operating the roads say they feelpressured to sign a contract with a single ETC builder-- the only one theGovernment has approved.

The frustration of investors, who manage roads under the Build-Operate-Transfer(BOT) scheme, came to the fore at a meeting on September 11 to discuss progresson the ETC system. The investors say they are effectively forced to signcontracts with VETC Ltd.Com to implement the new electronic fee collectionat 29 toll booths.

Nguyen Van Huyen, General Director of the Vietnam Road Administration, said theinvestors have the right to choose a builder for the ETC system, but that allbuilders must meet Ministry of Transport requirements.

"However, the supplier must pass the ministry’s examination and beapproved by the ministry," he said.

The only currently approved supplier is VETC. If the investors don’t buildtheir ETC systems by the deadline of October 30, they will be forced to stopcollecting tolls, the official said, leaving BOT investors little choice but tocontinue negotiating with the company.

ETC aims to eliminate delays on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically. Thetechnology determines whether passing cars are enrolled in the program,alerts enforcers for those that are not, and electronically debits the accountsof registered car owners without requiring them to stop.

Tu Minh Nguyet, a representative of Can Tho-Phung Hiep BOT Ltd.Com, theinvestor in the Can Tho-Phung Hiep section of Highway No1, said the new technologywould certainly make driving more convenient for road users. But how to bestimplement it remained an open question, she said.

She said her company had negotiated seven times with VETC on the terms to buildan ETC system, but had still failed to reach an agreement. Nguyet said shethought the Government should assign VETC to supply and install softwaredevices and then immediately sell the technology to BOT investors, rather thanallowing VETC to operate the new electronic systems for extended periods oftime.    

She said BOT investors could manage toll collection through the ETC system ontheir own. Nguyet said the prospect of VETC managing tolls on roadsoperated by BOT investors could obscure the public’s understanding of whoexactly is in charge of fee collection.  

She questioned the fairness of a system in which 29 toll booths nation-wide arebuilding ETC systems, but only VETC has been allowed to supply service.

Nguyen Van Ngoi, Deputy Director of Construction and Investment No.194Joint-stock Company, which is the investor in the section of Highway No.1across Khanh Hoa central province, said that after several rounds ofnegotiations, it still hadn’t received the service-price list from VETC.

According to Ngoi, VETC has demanded contracts that stipulate it will supplythe ETC service for five years. But the BOT investors would prefer two-yearcontracts because the quality of services must be re-evaluated after everyyear.

According to the Government’s policy, service suppliers will be responsible formonitoring the toll collection, and then all data will be transmitted to the VietnamRoad Administration.

In a previous meeting on the ETC system, the Transport Minister had asked BOTinvestors to sign service-supply contracts with VETC before July 15. VETC wasto finish the installation of the ETC system at toll booths before August 15.The disputes between VETC and BOT investors led those deadlines to be missed atmany toll booths.-VNA