End of toll collection at Batu Tiga, Sungai Rasau

SHAH ALAM: Accompanied by cheers and applause from the public, many of them motorists, the boom barriers at the Sungai Rasau and Batu Tiga toll plazas were raised for good just after midnight, marking the end of toll collection at the two locations.
The toll collection at the two places had begun on Nov 15, 1993. It has been abolished 20 years earlier than the period set out in the PLUS North-South Expressway concession agreement.
A brief ceremony was held in conjunction with the occasion at the Sungai Rasau Toll Plaza, in the presence of Selangor Barisan Nasional Liaison Committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin and Malaysian Highway Authority director-general Datuk Ismail Md Salleh.
PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail officially handed over to Ismail the letter of authorisation for the abolition of toll at the two places.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had announced the abolition of the toll collection in his Budget 2018 proposal, stating government concern over the cost of living and the need to help improve the quality of life of the people.
Up to 270,000 residents of Shah Alam and Klang are expected to benefit from the abolition of the toll, enabling them to save between RM48.40 and RM126 a month.
The toll rate at Sungai Rasau was RM1 for Class 1 vehicles (vehicles with 2 axles and 3 or 4 wheels excluding taxis), RM1.30 for Class 2 vehicles (vehicles with 2 axles and 5 or 6 wheels excluding buses), RM2 for Class 3 vehicles (vehicles with 3 or more axles), RM 0.40 for taxis and RM0.80 for buses.
The rate at Batu Tiga was RM1.10 for Class 1 vehicles, RM1.50 for Class 2 vehicles, RM2.20 for Class 3 vehicles, RM 0.40 for taxis and RM0.90 for buses.
Following the abolition of the toll collection, the operation and maintenance of Federal Highway Route 2 will come under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department. — Bernama