Toll Increase For 5 Highways: 20% - 60%
Our good buddy at Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR or Ministry of Works), Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu announced today (14 December 2006) that the toll rates for five concessionaires will be raised. The new rates will take effect on 1 January 2007.
The government is allowing a hike of between 20% to 60% on five affected concessionaires, citing that they could no longer afford to compensate the companies. As an example, when the LDP was opened, the rates were initially set at RM1.50 but subsidised by the government to the current rate of RM1.00 due to public pressure. The cost for compensating the reduced price for this year alone amounted to RM76 million while 2005 cost the government RM68 million. The last toll increase was made by PLUS Expressway when it increased the rates for the North-South Expressway by 10% on 1 January 2005.
The affected highways and the toll increase for class 1 vehicles (cars) as follows:
| Concessionaire | Highway | Old Rates (RM) |
New Rates (RM) | Increase | ||
| Proposed | Actual | RM | % | |||
| Litrak | Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) | 1.00 | 2.10 | 1.60 | 0.60 | 60 |
| Kesas | Lebuhraya Shah Alam | 1.50 | 2.40 | 2.20 | 0.70 | 47 |
| Grand Saga Sdn. Bhd. | Lebuhraya Cheras-Kajang: Batu 9 | 0.70 | 1.20 | 1.00 | 0.30 | 43 |
| Lebuhraya Cheras-Kajang: Batu 11 | 0.60 | 1.10 | 0.90 | 0.30 | 50 | |
| MTD Prime Sdn. Bhd. | Lebuhraya KL-Karak: Gombak | 4.00 | 8.80 | 5.00 | 1.00 | 25 |
| Lebuhraya KL-Karak: Bentong | 2.50 | 3.70 | 3.00 | 0.50 | 20 | |
| Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (PROLINTAS) | Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie | 1.00 | - | 1.40 | 0.40 | 40 |
The craziest increase in on the LDP which sees a hike of 60%. That’s really going to affect a lot of motorists. A friend of mine commented that it would be better off working from home. The increase in the Karak Expressway will affect those travelling towards the east coast. I’ll be going down to Mentakab twice towards the end of the year. Good thing the new rates won’t take effect until next year. Those who are going to Genting Highlands will find their budgets cut by RM1.00. HAH!
At any rate, the increase of toll does not adversely affect my travel expenses. I rarely use the highways listed above. However, this is not the only thing that is set to increase in 2007. Motorists can also expect the annual price hike in petrol. I’m guessing an inflation of 40sen (20%) from the current rates of RM1.92/litre. Unfortunately, while inflation is going crazy on us, our pay cheques don’t seem to be growing any bigger.
Related Articles
- 14 December 2006:
- Govt Announces Toll Rates Hike At Five Highways From Jan 1 - Bernama
- Toll rates: 20%-60% hike! - Malaysia Kini
- 11 December 2006:
- Hike will take its toll on us - The Star
- 28 November 2006:
- Malaysia highway tolls set to increase - Bussiness Times Singapore (listed on Kementerian Penerangan Malaysia)
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