SHAH ALAM, 13 July: The fully electronic toll collection at the Batu Tiga and Sungai Rasau toll plazas in Klang, which will be implemented by the North-South Expressway Project (PLUS) from September 1, will burden the users of the expressway.
This is because motorists are forced to buy extra accessories to use the expressway; either the ‘Touch n Go’ card or the SmartTAG.
The Executive Councillor for Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, said that PLUS should have awareness to not add stress to the rising cost of motorists using the expressway.
“This would definitely increase the expenses of motorists who use the expressway, especially those using it every day to go to work.
“PLUS should think of other alternatives instead of this method; which increases PLUS profits on the whole.
“Among the suggestions that should be studied is whether to impose the minimum toll rates or whether it is time to just eliminate it altogether,” said Dr Ahmad Yunus when contacted by Selangor Kini.
Previously, the Managing Director of PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS), Datuk Noorizah Abd Hamid, said that all toll transactions at the two toll plazas will be handled through the PLUSMiles card, the Touch ‘n Go card or the SmartTAG.
It is estimated that in 2012, a total of 160,000 vehicles passed through these two tolls and this number is expected to increase by double by 2014.
This means that PLUS will generate profits many times over just through the purchase of the PLUSMiles card, the Touch ‘n Go card or the SmartTAG.
It was also previously estimated that PLUS has recovered the capital of RM357 million for the highway expansion in just three years.
PLUS began collecting toll at both highways since the end of 1993.
The recent announcement by PLUS is also seen to be contradicting with the statement by the Public Works Minister, Datuk Fadillah Yusof, on June 3, which stated that the Federal Government agrees to consider abolishing the Sungai Rasau and Batu Tiga tolls.
NS
