PAKATAN TO REPLACE TOLLS WITH ‘CONGESTION CHARGE DURING 6-HOUR PEAK PERIOD DAILY’, STARTS TALKS WITH GAMUDA TO BUY BACK 4 MAIN HIGHWAYS

PETALING JAYA: The Government has begun talks with Gamuda Bhd to negotiate the acquisition of highway concessions for four main highways, said the Prime Minister’s Office.

The four highways are the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (SPRINT), Lebuhraya Shah Alam (KESAS) and SMART Tunnel.

“Upon successful takeover of the highways, the Government intends to abolish the existing toll mechanism,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement Saturday (Feb 23).

However, a “congestion charge” will be introduced for the public where commuters would pay a certain charge equivalent to the existing toll during a six-hour “peak” period daily.

During “off-peak” periods between 11pm and 5am, highway users will be able to travel on the highway for free.

“At other ‘normal’ travelling hours, commuters will enjoy discounted rates up to 30% compared to existing toll rates,” it said.

The revenue collected from the “congestion charge” will be channelled towards the operations and maintenance of the highways and repayment of borrowings, said the Prime Minister’s office.

Any surplus collected will then be channelled into a public transportation fund to improve the quality of public transport in the country.

“Further details on the proposed exercise will be announced by the Finance Minister at the appropriate time,” the statement read.

The Pakatan Harapan government had promised in its election manifesto to take steps to acquire highway concessions and abolish the toll collection in stages according to the terms of the concession agreement.

“This is to alleviate the high cost of living for commuters,” it added.

THE STAR