Digitizing bus and parking lots.

Lam Dong province is striving to promote the digitalization of toll collection systems at bus stations and urban parking lots. This is an important part of the government's roadmap for modernizing transportation infrastructure and promoting the national digital economy. However, the implementation process is also revealing many challenges at the grassroots level.

North Phan Thiet Bus Station. Photo: Dinh Hoa

A step towards improving the efficiency of urban traffic management.

Initiated by the Ministry of Construction , and based on Government Decree No. 119/2024/ND-CP issued on September 30, 2024, on electronic payments in road transport, the implementation of the electronic toll collection (ETC) model is not only intended to change payment methods but is also expected to improve the efficiency of urban traffic management, diversify payment methods, provide maximum convenience for vehicle owners, and enhance competition among service providers. More importantly, this is seen as a step demonstrating a strong commitment to digital transformation and the development of a cashless society for the country. Therefore, this task not only affects the efficiency of traffic management but also reflects the digital transformation capacity of localities.

The Department of Construction has stepped in, actively promoting and guiding transportation units, businesses, and the public on the benefits and methods of using electronic payment methods. Simultaneously, it has requested communes, wards, and special zones to urgently implement the non-stop toll collection model. The goal is to ensure 100% implementation at all parking lots in the province before the end of December 2025.

Don Duong bus station is deserted, with only 2 or 3 buses entering and leaving the station each day.

Challenges from the grassroots

However, the current deployment speed in the province is not yet satisfactory and is uneven. Observations from several bus stations indicate that due to the very low volume of vehicles entering and exiting the station, and the relatively high cost of implementing cashless toll collection (around 300 million VND), many bus stations are not enthusiastic about the implementation. For example, at Don Duong Bus Station, only 3-4 vehicles enter and exit the station each day, while the number of passenger transport vehicles in the commune is considerable. With such a small number of vehicles, the ability to recoup investment and maintain operations has become a concern, leading to a lack of enthusiasm from bus stations.

“Currently, we haven't implemented cashless toll collection because the bus station's revenue has been very low recently. The practice of circumventing regulations and avoiding bus terminals is still quite common in the area. Although the number of registered passenger transport vehicles is double the registered number, the actual number of vehicles entering the station each day is only half. Some bus companies register but none of their vehicles enter the station. Many bus companies choose to switch to contract-based arrangements to avoid entering the station, resulting in revenue losses and management difficulties. We hope for the attention of the government and relevant departments to resolve this issue,” shared the manager of Don Duong Bus Station.

To ensure the 100% deployment of ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) at parking lots and bus stations throughout the province by December 2025, coordinated efforts and determination from all levels and sectors are essential. Based on the actual operation of bus stations, local authorities also need to review and improve their systems, while simultaneously implementing flexible and appropriate solutions to address the issue of people avoiding designated stations, thereby ensuring traffic safety and supporting the efficient operation of bus stations and terminals.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/so-hoa-ben-bai-dau-xe-400850.html