The Ministry of Transport has sent an official notice, requesting investors of BOT across the country to ensure traffic order and avoid congested roads during Tết (Lunar New Year).

To protest the collection of fee at BOT T1 on National Highway 91 in Cần Thơ City’s Ô Môn District, dozens of drivers on January 13 refused to pay the fee and left their vehicles at the station, disrupting traffic for several hours.

Nguyễn Văn Huyện, director general of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, said the ministry had asked BOT investors to allow cars to pass through the toll booths at no charge if the queue reaches over 700m.

The request comes amidst concerns of traffic congestion at BOT toll booths along National Highway 1, which would affect people’s travel plans, especially before, during and after Tết.

Huyện said, in a bid to solve the problem of traffic jams at toll stations, the directorate had previously ordered BOT investors, highway management and the local transport department to place signs reading “No parking over 5 minutes” to prevent drivers from stopping at toll stations for longer than five minutes.

In addition, seven transport inspection teams have been assigned to work with local transport departments to enhance dissemination of this information and deal with drivers caught violating the regulation, he said.

Over the last few months, drivers have reportedly been protesting at BOT toll stations nationwide because of high or unreasonable toll fees. The drivers drive slowly, park for long periods at toll stations or pay in small bills, causing traffic blocks.

Huyện warned drivers not to disrupt services at toll stations.

The directorate has directed the BOT toll booths to set up two lanes to handle inquiries on the toll fee, he said, adding that drivers should go there if needed and allow other drivers through.

To ease congestion at toll stations in the long term, the directorate will speed up the completion of electronic toll collection at all stations nationwide by 2019, as directed by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. — VNS