PUTRAJAYA: Toll rates of over a dozen major highways in the country may be hiked up soon.
According to a front page report in Berita Harian today, the Works Ministry has brought the proposal for the government’s approval at a cabinet meeting today.
The report said the government was deciding on whether toll rates of 16 highways would be increased between 20 sen and RM 1 in August this year.
Among the proposed rates, Besraya highway will experience a 70 sen hike from RM1.30 to RM 2, whereas the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) may see a 60 sen increase from RM1.60 to RM2.20.
The Damansara-Puchong Expressway could be increased by 50 sen from RM1.60 to RM2.10, while Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) will also see the same hike from RM2 to RM2.50.
The Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR) is also tipped to be raised from RM2 to RM2.50, while the Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK) would be hiked 60 sen from RM 1 to RM1.60.
Other highways to see similar hikes include the Maju Expressway (MEX), The Kajang–Seremban Highway (LEKAS), Cheras-Kajang (Grand Saga) Highway, Kulim-Butterworth highway, Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), and the East Coast Expressway 1.
However, the increases did not include the North-South Expressway (NSE).
In November last year, the government had decided to defer the increase of toll rates for 20 highways nationwide although they were expected to be raised this year.
Following the postponement, the government had forked out RM558.69 million to compensate the highway concessionaires.