A downtown street is crowded with vehicles. The HCMC Department of Transport has proposed building 34 booths to collect fees from cars entering the central business district

Under the proposal, the 34 collection booths will be built in districts 1 and 3 and in areas bordering districts 5 and 10, with a ring road linking the streets leading to the city center, such as Hoang Sa Street along Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal, Nguyen Phu Nguyen intersecting with Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Ba Thang Hai, Le Hong Phong, Ly Thai To, Nguyen Van Cu, Vo Van Kiet and Ton Duc Thang streets.

The project, which will be executed during the 2019-2021 period, is aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the downtown area, raising the number of public transport users in the city, cutting down on environmental pollution, increasing budget revenue and developing public transportation in HCMC, according to the department.

Apart from 34 nonstop toll collection booths on the ring road around the city center, a control center will also be set up to connect with the collection points, handle information and manage fee collections.

Earlier, in 2009, the HCMC government allowed Tien Phong Technology JSC (ITD) to research and map out a plan to install automatic booths to collect fees from automobiles heading to the center of the city.

The firm’s latest research shows that the fee is expected to range from VND40,000 to VND60,000 per entry for cars, passenger coaches and trucks. Buses and public service vehicles will not be subject to the fee. Besides this, the charge will not be applied to exiting vehicles.

However, the project has triggered a negative response and raised objections among experts and car owners, leading to the suspension of the project.

The municipal Department of Transport said that on June 14, the consulting council for HCMC urban transportation held a meeting to gather feedback on the scheme.

At the meeting, participating members reached a consensus in support of the project, suggesting only vehicles entering the downtown area be charged, with no fees being imposed on motorbikes.

In addition, the members proposed executing the project under the public investment format, where a city authority will act as the investor and manage the project in line with prevailing regulations. After it is completed, a tender will be organized to hire an operating manager for the project. SGT

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