Deepening the reform of the toll road system and eliminating provincial boundary toll stations on expressways is one of the important measures benefiting the people in China's transportation industry this year. This work is also one of the tough battles that our company must win this year. In accordance with the unified deployment of the Ministry of Transport, the cancellation of provincial boundary toll stations fully entered the verification and testing stage at 0:00 on December 21, 2019. The grid connection and switching operation began at 0:00 on January 1. To win the battle of eliminating provincial boundary toll stations, Yuexiu Transportation made meticulous arrangements, unified thoughts and actions, strengthened responsibility and commitment, and completed this major political task with high quality.
First, plan ahead and adopt a case-by-case approach
Only through deep thinking can one go far; only after careful planning can one act. At the end of March 2019, the whole country sounded the clarion call for the battle to remove provincial boundary toll stations. On May 15th, the Ministry of Transport issued the "Overall Technical Plan for Removing Provincial Boundary Toll Stations on Expressways". Our company acted promptly, mobilized and deployed relevant work, and established a special leading group led by the company's general manager, clarifying the working mechanism and turning passivity into initiative. In accordance with the principle of "one policy for each road and overall planning and arrangement", we have focused on key points, identified the focus of efforts, worked backward from the deadline, refined the implementation plan, broken down tasks and assigned responsibilities, forming a roadmap and timetable. We have carried out a battle based on the map and resolutely won the battle to remove provincial boundary toll stations on expressways. During the early stage of engineering construction, efforts should be made in aspects such as the engineering construction plan, gantry site selection, equipment selection, lane renovation, provincial boundary station demolition, and network security, strictly controlling the project progress and construction quality. Among them, the construction of the project was completed on schedule by the end of October. A total of 114 ETC gantries were built, 128 lanes were renovated, and 3 provincial boundary toll stations were demolished. The plan started with an investment of 426 million yuan in the preliminary design stage. After research and optimization, the final contract price was approximately 245 million yuan, saving 181 million yuan. The control effect was remarkable.
Meanwhile, the company organized and carried out a special study on the subsequent operation and management work under the new model in advance. According to the new version of the "Classification of Vehicle Types for Toll Road Vehicle Tolls" standard, it constructed a data analysis model, calculated the toll standards and impacts of changing vehicle types for trucks, and sorted out the management content and process of auditing business under the new model. It provides a basis and guidance for determining the charging standards, handling special situations, data auditing, and the allocation of auditing talents.
To ensure revenue, each affiliated company has made every effort to minimize the impact of the cancellation of provincial boundary toll stations on the central work. They have carried out toll station traffic flow guarantee plans in advance to avoid free passage due to toll station construction. For instance, they have actively coordinated with Yuenan Company to set up temporary toll points and green channel inspection stations in advance to relieve the traffic pressure on Jingyue Bridge during construction and effectively prevent temporary free passage.
Safety comes first in everything. Without danger, there is safety; without damage, there is integrity. During the project construction process, safety runs through the entire process. Guided by safety standards, each affiliated company adheres to precise policy implementation, meticulous management, and strengthened process control to achieve the goal of zero liability accidents in the construction and operation of engineering projects.
Second, keep up with the trend and prioritize training
Everything is accomplished with preparation and fails without it. Before operation, rules should come first. On June 18, 2019, the Ministry of Transport issued a series of documents including the "Operation and Service Rules for Toll Road Network Toll Collection (2019)". Focusing on the operation rules, clearing rules, green channel inspection, CPC card management, and entrance overloading control under the new model, the company played a coordinating role and invited relevant experts from the Ministry to conduct multi-level and comprehensive training. Each affiliated company, in accordance with the requirements of local industry authorities, actively conducts training on operation rules and procedures, ensuring that the rules are well memorized and the operations are proficient.
Third, learn from each other and accumulate advantages
Due to the wide distribution of the sections under our company's control and the differences in management systems and implementation methods among various provinces, in order to ensure the smooth progress of the grid connection operation, the working group for the cancellation of provincial boundary toll stations regularly holds special meetings to systematically deploy relevant work, establishes work ledgers and a tracking and cancellation system for problem matters, promotes mutual problem-solving, promptly shares good experiences and practices, and fully plays the role of overall planning. Achieve the superposition of advantages.
Fourth, win the battle and make a smooth transition
The strong wind is the perfect time to set sail, and the decisive victory and breakthrough will write a glorious chapter. On the morning of December 31, 2019, He Baiqing, the general manager of the company, organized and held a mobilization and deployment meeting for grid connection and switching, and issued a mobilization order for grid connection and switching. In the evening, the company's business division leaders were on the front line, taking the lead in command. Relevant business departments of the headquarters sent personnel to supervise and guide on the spot. The Party member assault teams composed of the leadership teams and relevant management personnel of the affiliated companies, as well as the personnel at the front-line toll stations, were all on high alert. At 0:00 on January 1, 2020, with the ringing of the New Year's bell, upon the command of "switch", the grid connection and switching work of each affiliated company was carried out in an orderly manner, and the grid connection and switching work of the provincial boundary toll station was successfully completed.
Looking back on the hardships and bitterness since the provincial boundary toll stations were removed, we transportation workers have braved the scorching heat and bitter cold, and delivered an outstanding performance in the work of removing provincial boundary toll stations. All that has passed is but a prologue. Now, standing at a new starting point and embarking on a new journey, let's get ready and set sail. Let's continue to strive for the dream of a strong transportation nation.