#Toll: Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System Implemented, Tolls Now Cashless

You know what day/date it is today, right? It’s 9th September! This means that the electronic toll collection system via only the Touch ‘n Go or SmartTAG has been implemented.

Toll collection at the “Stormwater Management And Road Tunnel” or “SMART Tunnel”, 3 major highways in Kuala Lumpur, and 7 toll plazas around the country have gone cashless from today onwards.

They are as follows:

1. Jitra Toll Plaza, North-South Expressway (PLUS)
2. Bukit Kayu Hitam Toll Plaza (PLUS)
3. Lunas Toll Plaza, Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE)
4. Kubang Semang Toll Plaza (BKE)
5. Penang Bridge Toll Plaza
6. Gombak Toll Plaza, Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway (KLK).
7. Bentong Toll Plaza (KLK)
8. Dato Keramat Toll Plaza, Ampang–Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH)
9. Ayer Panas Toll Plaza, Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE)
10. Sentul Pasar Toll Plaza (DUKE)
11. Batu Toll Plaza (DUKE)

With the aim and promise to smoothen traffic flow, the fully electronic toll collection is expected to help reduce traffic congestion by about 20% to 30%.

And that’s not all. To encourage motorists to pay elec­­tronically, many concessionaires have been throwing in offers. The AKLEH and DUKE concessionaires were offering a 5% rebate for Class One motorists (cars, vans and small trucks) for 3 months.

SmartTAG units would also be sold at a special price of RM99, from today until the stocks last.

According to a report by The Star, AKLEH general manager Engku Mohd Fauzi Engku Hatim said:

We have 22 lanes in total and we have been switching the mixed mode lanes (cash and Touch ’n Go) to only Touch ’n Go lanes in stages. Rela officers will also assist highway patrol officers to control the traffic situation. We have also increase our support staff to promote the ETC and to sell Touch ’n Go cards.

He added that a smooth transition was expected with electronic toll collection rising from 65% in January to 89% at present for the Datuk Ke­­ramat toll plaza.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd general manager (operations) Norbayati Manap said top up service and purchase of electronic access cards would be available 24 hours at the extreme left booth, as the final phase of the cashless system is imposed in the last 5 open toll booths in the northern region.

Motorists can also top up their MyKad which have the Touch ’n Go features.

Source: The Star Online.