Guan Eng: Takeover of highways to take six months, commuters to save RM180m a year

KUALA LUMPUR: The government expects the acquisition exercise of four tolled highways from Gamuda Bhd, in which it has a majority stake, will take up to six months to fulfill legal, regulatory and financial requirements. 

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said on Tuesday initial projections estimate commuters will save as much as RM180mil per annum immediately with the switch from toll to congestion charge.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said on Tuesday initial projections estimate commuters will save as much as RM180mil per annum immediately with the switch from toll to congestion charge.

The proposed acquisition of these highways is a win-win-win solution for all involved: 

• the Government / taxpayers save RM5.3 billion in compensation to the toll concessionaires to continue freezing toll rate hikes; 

• commuters save up to RM180 million per annum with reduced traffic jam during peak hours; and 

• any surplus collection goes towards financing the upgrade and maintenance of our public transport system. 

As a percentage of the urban toll roads market (which excludes the PLUS group), the market share of these four highways based on the toll revenue collected is around 48%

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