Works Minister: Gov't will maintain non-tolled roads

The government will always ensure non-tolled roads, especially federal roads, are always in good condition and comfortable for use.

 

Works Minister Fadillah Yusof said the government had also taken numerous initiatives including implementing a road blueprint to reduce traffic congestion in the next 17 years.

 

Under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, the government had approved a RM10.4 billion allocation for 470 projects to widen, upgrade and build roads nationwide, he told Bernama in Kuala Lumpur today.

 

"For this year, RM1.07 billion is provided to maintain the existing 17,550 kilometres of federal roads," he said when commenting on the government's efforts in creating alternative roads for road users in light of the impending increase in toll rates this year.

 

Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA) deputy president, Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah hoped the government would study traffic lights on roads with light traffic.

 

"Undoubtedly, traffic lights play an important role. However, if the number of vehicles along a route is small, the traffic lights can be done away with or the traffic light change speeded up to ensure smooth traffic flow," he added.

- Bernama