Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued a directive requiring acceleration of theapplication of automated non-stop toll collection services nationwide.

Thedirective said the implementation of the electronic service, which replaces theone-stop model, had been determined as a mandatory task by the NationalAssembly, the Government and the PM.

Itaims to ensure transparency in toll collection as well as create favourableconditions for drivers.

Inorder to push automated non-stop toll collections nationwide, the PM has askedthe Ministry of Transport to direct the implementation of the service to ensureprogress, quality, interconnection, synchronisation, safety and security inaccordance with the law.

Theministry has been instructed to work with people's committees of provincesand cities to prepare separate lanes for non-stop toll collections attollbooths and guide drivers to use the correct lanes.

Theministry will need to address problems facing investors and serviceproviders to ensure the progress of the project, ensuring harmonisation ofinterests among related parties. At the same time, it mustensure transparency regarding toll collections.

ThePM has also asked the ministry to suspend toll collections forprojects that failed to switch to automated non-stop toll collection inaccordance with the law.

Theministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and otheragencies to ensure traffic order and safety, and strictly deal withdrivers who intentionally violate the law and cause traffic congestion attollbooths, especially toll stations that operate electronic systems.

Motorvehicle registration units and relevant agencies will implement electronictags when inspecting vehicles and share vehicle data with toll serviceproviders to ensure synchronisation.

TheMinistry of Public Security will work with the Ministry of Transportand people's committees of provinces and cities to ensure security andorder in the process of the installation and operation of the electronicnon-stop toll collection system, and strictly handle any legal violations.

TheMinistry of Finance will coordinate with the Ministry of Transportto guide the application of electronic invoices.

ThePM has also instructed the State Bank of Vietnam to direct commercialbanks to connect their accounts to the toll collectionsystem, ensuring connectivity, convenience and safety.

TheMinistry of Information and Communications has been taskedwith guiding the use of a Radio Frequency Identification systeminstalled at toll stations and support toll collection servicesto ensure information security.

ThePM asked the Ministry of Information and Communications to increase informationdissemination to raise drivers’ awareness of the automated toll collections andrelated regulations.

Tollboothswith non-stop toll collection systems should put them into operationimmediately and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and theMinistry of Transport to ensure order and safety.

Vehicleswhich do not have e-tags or sufficient funds in their accounts will still beable to use manual payment lanes.

ThePrime Minister's directive also states that the electronic non-stop tollcollection system must ensure synchronous and smooth operation as well asinformation security, including the personal information of vehicle ownersaccording to the provisions of the law.

Investorsare responsible for coordinating with service providers for the investment,construction, renovation, management, operation and maintenance of automaticnon-stop toll collection systems.

TheVietnam Automobile Transport Association will encourage transportbusiness units to use e-tags for their vehicles to limit congestion attollbooths.

Vehicleowners should cooperate with relevant units at tollbooths to ensure thesmooth operation of toll collections. Intentional violations will be strictlydealt with in accordance with law. /.