This is certainly good news for all motorists.I passed through the highway on Friday night (yesterday night) at around 10.30 pm and traffic was really heavy, much higher than normal. This is probably due to the motorists wanting to enjoy the lower toll (including us) rather than using the North South Expressway or the Sg Besi/Mines toll.

It then occurred to me that the toll company may have the last laugh as they will be compensated by the Government and still enjoy additional 30% to 40% extra traffic as it will be much cheaper to use this road. 

Wow, talk about a good business deal (for the toll company) and who gets to pay again?

Until the next time, cheers.

The Star, Saturday March 3, 2012

Cheras-Kajang road users rejoice over reduced toll

IT was a bittersweet victory for road users and those who had campaigned for the Cheras-Kajang Highway to be toll-free.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced on Thursday that the RM1 charge for the 9th Mile (Batu 9) toll plaza towards Kuala Lumpur and the 90 sen charge at the 11th Mile (Batu 11) toll plaza towards Kajang along the Grand Saga Highway had been abolished.

On Thursday night, road users and nearby residents gathered near the toll plazas to witness the abolishment of toll rates.

Some of those interviewed initially did not know that it was only a 50% discount and thought that it would be completely toll-free.

Road user Nazim Ahmad said he was happy with the 50% discount.

“When the East-West Link 50 sen toll was abolished last year (in May), I thought the toll along Cheras-Kajang would have been abolished, too,” he said.

Taman Cuepacs Residents Association chairman Ramakrishnan Ambalam said residents living in the 30 residential areas near the toll plazas were affected, even those who did not have to pass through the toll plazas.

“Motorists who want to avoid paying toll will use Jalan Koop Cuepacs 3B and 4 in the residential areas and exit near the Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA), causing congestion in the residential area during peak hours.

“Some residents have to leave as early as 6am to avoid the jam. What could have been a two-minute drive to get on the highway takes us 30 minutes,” he said.

Taman Fern Grove Residents Association deputy chairman Datuk Cheah Kong Wai said accidents had happened due to the congestion.

“Sometimes we cannot even get out of our house. The toll issue is still a concern (as it is not a 100% abolishment),” he said.

Ramakrishnan and Cheah hope for a total abolishment so that there would be less congestion.

Lim Lay Geok, a 47-year-old pasar malam hawker who has taken part in the “Tak Nak Tol” (We do not want toll) campaigns, opted to get off work and rushed to witness the abolishment of toll rates at midnight.

“Because of my work, I use the highway three to four times a week. The moment I received the news alert via SMS, I quickly told other hawkers and we rejoiced,” she said, adding that it would have been better if it was a 100% abolishment.

At the 9th mile plaza, the celebration was somewhat politicised as BN supporters gathered at the toll plaza towards Kuala Lumpur while Pakatan Rakyat supporters gathered on the opposite side.

Both sides waved flags and chanted slogans like “Hidup BN” and “Hidup Rakyat”.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said he wants to know how much the Government would be compensating the concessionaire when the term ended.

Kajang municipal councillors Eddie Ng, Steven Chan and Razaly Hassan were also present.

Ng said some thought it was impossible to abolish toll when the “Tak Nak Tol” campaign began last year but were proved otherwise.

A campaign was carried out to collect signatures to abolish the toll rate.