FOUR HIGHWAYS TO BE TOLL-FREE
GOVT in talks with highway concessionaire, will introduce ‘congestion charge’ on completion of takeover.
FOUR expressways in the Klang Valley have been targeted by the government as part of its proposed acquisition of tolled highways.
This, as the Pakatan Harapan government seeks to abolish toll collection in stages, is a pledge in its 14th General Election manifesto.
PH had promised to take steps to acquire highway concessions and abolish toll collection in stages in accordance with the terms of concession agreements, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said the highways were the Damansara Puchong Expressway (LDP), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (Sprint), Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas) and the Stormwater Management And Road Tunnel (SMART).
Dr Mahathir said the move was to alleviate the high cost of living for commuters.
“I am pleased to announce that as a first step, the government has commenced talks with Gamuda Bhd to negotiate the acquisition of highway concession, in which the company has a majority stake,” he said in statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday.
Dr Mahathir said upon takeover of the highways, the government intended to abolish the toll mechanism.
“In its place, a ‘congestion charge’ will be introduced, where commuters will only pay a fee equivalent to the existing toll for six hours of ‘peak’ period a day.
“During the off-peak hours between 11pm and 5am, commuters will travel on the highway for free,” he said.
“At ‘normal’ travelling hours, commuters will enjoy discounted rates of up to 30 per cent.”
Dr Mahathir said the revenue collected from the “congestion charge” would go towards the operations and maintenance of the highways and repayment of loans.
He said any surplus collected would be channelled to a public transportation fund to improve public transport.
Dr Mahathir said details of the exercise would be announced by the finance minister soon.
New developments involving tolled highways were rife after Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Thursday the government was expected to issue a statement on tolls within a “couple of days”.
“We have just discussed this (abolishment of toll charges) in the cabinet meeting, so maybe in a day or two, a statement will be issued.
“Let the minister in charge make the announcement,” he said at a PH event in Kampung Batu 26, Beranang, on Thursday.
On Friday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the government was working towards abolishing tolls, but needed time to do it.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said any announcement on the toll issue should be made by the relevant minister.
“This toll issue has been brought up since 2008. If it can’t be abolished, then we must reduce the rate for the people,” he said.
“Even the Barisan Nasional government that administered the country for 61 years failed to do it, so we (PH) need to show that we are different from them.”