At least 80% of Eastern Dispersal Link motorists do not have to pay toll, say Malaysian authorities

Vehicles travelling along the new Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) highway in Johor Baru. At least 180,000 vehicles or about 80 per cent of Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) motorists would not have to pay toll rates as they could exit at various points
Vehicles travelling along the new Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) highway in Johor Baru. At least 180,000 vehicles or about 80 per cent of Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) motorists would not have to pay toll rates as they could exit at various points without having to go through the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, Malaysian authorities have said. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

JOHOR BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - At least 180,000 vehicles or about 80 per cent of Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) motorists would not have to pay toll rates as they could exit at various points without having to go through the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, Malaysian authorities have said.

Only those who drive in and out of the CIQ, also known as the Sultan Iskandar Building, will have to pay, the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) said.

The CIQ complex is the border checkpoint near the Johor Causeway.

Explaining the revised toll rates starting this Friday at the CIQ, the MHA said that the charges would be used for the maintenance of the EDL and other CIQ facilities.

In a statement on Sunday, MHA said the link, which was an 8.1km elevated highway, was the main entry point into the CIQ for those commuting to and from Singapore and that toll collected would be used to maintain it.

MHA said that previously, money from the toll collected at the CIQ was used to maintain the Johor Causeway.

The new rates, however, would be channelled to EDL's concessionaire, Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) for the construction and maintenance cost of the link and other CIQ facilities.

Starting Aug 1, the toll rates for vehicles coming into Malaysia are RM9.70 (S$3.80), RM14.70, RM19.70, RM4.80 and RM7.80 for the respective Class 1 to Class 5 vehicles.

The existing inbound charges ranged from RM1.40 (for taxis) to RM6.10 (for vehicles with three or more axles).

Rates for outbound vehicles would be RM6.80, RM10.20, RM13.60, RM3.40 and RM5.50 starting on Friday. Motorcyclists are exempted from paying toll.

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