Motorists happy that EDL toll abolished

JOHOR BARU: Motorists here consider the abolition of highway toll charges at the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) to be the best New Year gift for them.

Marketing services executive Lilian Wong, 47, who travels to Singapore every week, said the family would save a substantial amount of money now.

“My family goes to Singapore for church services,” she said, adding they sometimes carpool with friends and share the toll expenses.

English language lecturer Vincent D’Silva, 54, said it was good news for motorists who commute to Singapore regularly, especially Malaysians who drive to work there daily.

“Expect traffic to increase at the Causeway after this move. Motorists should plan their journey ahead,” he said.

Motorist Samsudin Agil, 45, said the decision to abolish the toll charges at the EDL was the right move in view of the rising cost of living.

The EDL is an elevated highway built to help disperse traffic heading into the Johor Baru city area. It has various entry and exit points and leads to the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex.

What a relief: Wong, Vincent and Samsudin are glad that one burden has been lifted off their shoulders.

The introduction of toll in August 2014 caused an uproar among motorists and lawmakers such as Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad and Skudai assemblyman Dr Boo Cheng Hao, who said it was an unnecessary burden.

During the tabling of Budget 2018, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the abolition of toll collection at EDL.

In other parts of the peninsula, tolls have been abolished at Batu Tiga and Sungai Rasau in Selangor and Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah.

The Works Ministry said in a statement yesterday that this was in line with the Budget 2018 announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Toll collection ceased at the stroke of midnight.

“With the abolition of toll collection at Sungai Rasau and Batu Tiga in Selangor as well as Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah, road users can enjoy a toll-free route, 20 years ahead of the timeline set in the PLUS Highway Concessions Agreement.

“For the Eastern Dispersal Link in Johor, users at Sultan Iskandar Building, Johor Baru, only need to pay toll for the Tambak Johor causeway,” it said.