PUTRAJAYA: The levy for commercial vehicles and toll charges at the Johor-Singapore Second Link will be reduced from Feb 13.
Outbound and inbound commercial vehicles will pay only RM50.
This is significantly lower than the existing rate of RM200 for outbound commercial vehicles and RM100 for commercial vehicles entering Johor from Singapore.
The Prime Minister's Office in a statement on Friday also said that toll charges at the Second Link would also be reduced.
"This is among the measures taken to reduce congestion at the Causeway. With this move we expect traffic to ease by 40%," it said.
Toll charges at the Second Link will be reduced between 47% and 82% depending on the vehicle class.
The new rates are applicable during off peak hours between 10am and 3pm and 11pm and 5am.
From Feb 13, private vehicles will be charged RM4 (from RM7.50 currently) and taxis RM3 (RM5.70) while buses will have to pay RM4.50 (from RM9.10).
Whereas toll charges for commercial vehicles in Classes 2 and 3 will be reduced from RM17.10 and RM34.30 respectively to RM4.50 and RM6.10, like on the Causeway.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he hopes that the reduction in the toll and levy will help spur tourism and bring in more tourists from Singaporeans.
He said he hoped that the move would also help ease the traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway.
"We are not sure about how much it will help to ease traffic jams but there will be a reduction," he added.
Najib said that easing congestion at the Johor causeway would also help Malaysians working in Singapore as some have to wake up as early as 3.30am to avoid the jams.
He was speaking to reporters during a meet the people session in Bukit Mor here on Friday.
He added that a high level meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would also look at other proposals to ease congestion at the Causeway.
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