All BOT toll stations in southern localities suspended amidst social distancing

Toll collection at BOT toll stations in the 19 southern localities under social distancing is suspended

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN) has required all BOT toll stations in southern cities and provinces adopting social distancing measures to suspend operations from July 20 to support the pandemic fight.

The DRVN has proposed the People’s Committees in the southern cities and provinces and BOT investors and companies to temporarily suspend toll collection. Collection will resume when the local authorities ease social distancing measures.

Local and foreign businesses have to pay a wide range of transport fees for road maintenance and tolls. A seafood exporter for example needs to pass through seven toll booths from Khanh Hoa province to Cat Lai Port. With 3,000 containers a year, the company needs to pay VND7.5 billion ($327,000) in tolls. The suspension of toll collection aims to provide some relief to local and foreign businesses by lowering logistics costs amidst the pandemic.

Following the decision, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has requested the An Suong-An Lac BOT toll station, the Phu My Bridge BOT toll station, the Hanoi Highway BOT toll station, as well as other toll stations on Nguyen Van Linh street to temporarily stop operations.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway managed by Vietnam Expressway Development Investment Corporation (VEC) has paused its toll collection activities in line with the order.

Nguyen Van Nhi, deputy general director of VEC said, "VEC has directed relevant units to have staff on duty 24/7 to direct traffic flows through toll stations," he said. "To ensure safety, we hope that the nearly 500 workers at toll collection, traffic management, and maintenance work in the southern region can get vaccinated soon. Toll collectors come into contact with many drivers each day, many of whom have to move through COVID-19 hotspots every day."