PETALING JAYA, 13 Feb 2009: Collection of toll at the Petaling Jaya Selatan 2 (PJS 2) toll plaza heading toward Kuala Lumpur on the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) has been abolished, Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed announced today.
“The abolishment will take effect now although officially it will stop at 12.01am on 14 Feb,” he said at the toll plaza here today.
Before the abolishment, NPE users, especially residents of Kampung Medan and Kampung Datuk Harun, had to pay RM1.60 each time they went through.
He said it was estimated that 30,000 residents of Kampung Medan, Kampung Datuk Harun, Taman Maju Jaya as well as areas around Petaling Jaya Selatan 1 and 2 will benefit directly.
“I believe that the move is timely and reflects the caring attitude and willingness of the government to help reduce the cost of living of people, especially of the lower income group, who use the expressway daily,” he said.
Several demonstrations by residents calling for the abolishment of toll at the plaza had been held, the latest on 7 Feb.
To avoid paying toll many residents and highway users used short-cuts around Taman Medan and Taman Dato Harun leading to much congestion during peak hours.
The 19.5km NPE, which was built at a cost of RM1.2 billion, was operated by concessionaire New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd. It was opened to traffic on 30 April 2004. — Bernama
yh says
Sure, the toll is canceled.
How much is the government compensating the concessionaire? As taxpayers, we need to know!