Ministry of Transport proposes to allow expansion of non-stop toll collection at airports

The Ministry of Transport has just sent a document to the Prime Minister requesting permission to expand non-stop toll collection services at airport toll stations.

According to the assessment of the Ministry of Transport, non-stop toll collection at airport toll stations helps modernize aviation infrastructure, in line with development trends, creates convenience for people and businesses, saves costs, reduces congestion and environmental pollution, increases transparency, and is in line with the State's policy of limiting the use of cash.

However, currently, the number of vehicles entering and exiting airports is very large (Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat International Airports have an average of 16,000-20,000 vehicles passing through toll stations every day, more than twice the number of vehicles passing through a road toll station), while manual toll collection often causes congestion and frustration for drivers and passengers, affecting the national image when airport toll stations are the first gateway to welcome international visitors.

Assessing that the non-stop toll collection service has become familiar to vehicle owners when more than 90% of vehicles have had tags affixed and accounts opened, the leader of the Ministry of Transport said that toll collection service providers, the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), have successfully tested and are ready to put the non-stop toll collection system into operation at the airport.

Up to this point, the Ministry of Transport has affirmed that the conditions regarding facilities, technical solutions, and technology to implement non-stop toll collection at airport toll stations are ready and can be implemented immediately.

The Ministry of Transport also pointed out that the problem with the slow implementation is due to Decision 19/2020 of the Prime Minister only allowing the non-stop toll collection system to be used to pay for road toll services at toll stations, without providing instructions for payment for other types of services. To expand the non-stop toll collection service at airport toll stations, Decision 19 needs to be adjusted and approved by the Prime Minister before implementation.

According to the PPP Law, toll service providers are established for the sole purpose of collecting road use fees. In case of expanding services on the basis of the non-stop electronic toll collection system, adjustments must be made to add additional services to the project scope.

In addition, according to Decision 19/2020, the responsibility for implementing non-stop toll collection is carried out by service providers. Therefore, the organization of non-stop toll collection at airport toll stations is under the authority of ACV and service providers.

After the Prime Minister approved the policy of implementing non-stop toll collection at airport toll stations based on the road toll collection system, the Ministry of Transport committed to directing relevant agencies and units to immediately implement it in accordance with their authority and legal regulations.

To expand and improve service quality, increase convenience, and facilitate users, the Ministry of Transport proposed that the Prime Minister allow the expansion of non-stop toll collection services at airport toll stations on the basis of the non-stop electronic toll collection system; assign the ministry to adjust the non-stop electronic toll collection project to suit actual implementation.

In addition, the Ministry of Transport also proposed to allow the ministry to review Decision 19/2020 of the Prime Minister and related legal regulations to submit to competent authorities for amendment or replacement, moving towards expanding many new services such as seaport fees, parking fees, insurance fees, inspection fees as well as completing and upgrading the system to move towards organizing free multi-lane toll collection, removing barriers at toll stations.