Traffic situation was still complicated without improvement at Cai Lay BOT tollbooth in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang as many drivers kept paying toll in small change or high nominal value notes, lengthening parking time at the station late afternoon yesterday.

Cai Lay tollbooth (Photo: SGGP)

Some stopped their vehicles at toll gates to clean their auto glass and did not buy tickets, causing traffic congestion and forcing the station to shut down for ten times with each lasting 10-15 minutes in the afternoon on December 3.

Many drivers said that the Ministry of Transport and the investor of the BOT project should remove the toll station to Cai Lay bypass and limit heavy trucks to travel in National Highway 1A in Cai Lay town.

The coffee shop which is 100 meters from Cai Lay BOT tollbooth was found attract many drivers saying that they were from HCMC and other provinces with wads of small change to side with drivers in the station area.

At noon on the same day, a group of drivers arrived at Tu Anh Rescue Service Company headquartered in Hung Thanh ward, Cai Rang district, Can Tho city, found the owner of the company, 36 year old Le Tan Tu, to talk about craning the automobile of Mr. Trinh Hong Phuong out from Cai Lay BOT tollbooth on December 1.

While talking, Tu took a bush hook to cut on 36 year old Vuong Quoc Tan leaving a 15cm long bleeding cut on his hand.

Receiving information, Cai Rang Police and Criminal Police Agency in Can Tho city invited the two sides to Hung Thanh ward to work.

According to Tu’s statement, his company signed a crane rental contract with Cai Lay BOT tollgate to solve traffic jam at the station within 30 days. In the afternoon on November 29, Tu sent a rescue vehicle from Can Tho city to Cai Lay which resumed operation on November 30 after over three month halt.

On December 1, Mr. Trinh Hong Phuong drove his vehicle to the station and argued with toll collection staff causing traffic jam. So authorized sides asked to use the rescue vehicle to tow Phuong’s vehicle out.

Can Tho Police has started criminal investigation over the case.

Ministry affirms Cai Lay BOT tollboth in right place

The Ministry of Transport has just raised its voice in defense of Cai Lay BOT tollbooth, once again affirming that the station's location was optimal after it was forced to continuously shut down because of drivers’ fierce opposition on November 30, the first day the station resumed operation after three month halt.

According to the ministry, the project of upgrading National Highway 1A road face and building Cai Lay bypass received the approval of Tien Giang province People’s Council, People’s Committee and National Assembly Delegation. The Prime Minister passed investment policy and procedures according to the law.

The ministry had presented two projects of the tollbooth location, one in the highway and the other in the bypass, while getting opinions from relevant sides.

According to project 1, investors build the detour and upgrade the highway. This project ensures capital recovery time and financial efficiency. The highway road face upgrading will reduce traffic jam and accidents in the stretch through Cai Lay town because vehicles will travel in both the highway and the detour.

Project 2 just builds the bypass and collects toll to vehicles in the detour not the highway. However, it can not limit the number of vehicles travelling through Cai Lay town because vehicles will avoid the tollbooth in the bypass.

In addition, if the National Highway was not improved, traffic jam and accident would increase in the stretch through the town. The second project does not ensure investment and financial efficiency and attract investors.

Afterwards, the relevant sides gave written consent about putting the station in the national highway.

Implementing requirements by the PM and deputy PM on reviewing and solving problems in toll prices of BOT projects, the ministry has worked with Tien Giang province and investor National Highway 1A Tien Giang Investment Company, to reduce toll level at Cai Lay station by 30 percent for all vehicles.

Vehicles of types 1 and 2 not trading transport services of those with household books in Phu Thuan, My Thanh Nam, Binh Phu and And Phu communes of Cai Lay district will be exempt from paying the fee. They enjoy 50 percent cut for trading transport services. Buses receive a similar reduction.

Still drivers continued opposing the tollbooth and used small change to pay toll forcing the investor to thrice open the gate for vehicles to travel through free of charge on the first day the station resumed operation. In the end, the station must shut down to wait for the Ministry of Transport to handle the issue.

Mr . Luu Van Hao, deputy chairman of National Highway 1A Tien Giang Investment Company, yesterday said that the toll station temporarily halted operation to wait for opinions from authorized agencies.

The ministry is now working with the Ministry of Public Security, local authorities and relevant agencies to organize toll collection at the station to refund the project, have measures to ensure security, order and traffic safety and strictly handle those taking advantage of the situation to cause public disorder.

SGGP