Thursday, December 14, 2006

The Toll is up again…

Yes, the toll rates at five highways in and around the Klang Valley will be raised between 30 sen and RM1, starting Jan 1 next year, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu announced today.



The five highways involved are Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Lebuhraya Shah Alam, Lebuhraya Cheras-Kajang, Lebuhraya KL-Karak and Lebuhraya Koridor Guthrie.

And that’s a lot of money.



OK we know, someone somewhere somehow will have to pay for quality roads.

Anyway, I was traveling from Johor to KL the other day (yes, it’s the North South Highway – so it’s not part of the toll hike plan) and I was stuck in a massive jam from Senawang to Seremban exit, for hours due to upgrading works and all. And that area, macam forever sesaklah.

Well, if toll paying customers are forced to 'crawl' on the highway, don’t you think it’s only fair to give a discount when facilities and non-operational infrastructure lead to more man-hour loss? Well… just giving it a lateral thinking exercise. In the US, at Denny’s restaurant for example, I remember, if the food is not up to standard, customers do not have to pay for the meal.