PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) anticipates 1.6 million vehicles will use the North-South Expressway (NSE) everyday on Peak Days throughout the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays, a 20% increase from normal days.
“As such, PLUS will implement various strategies to cope with the traffic increase and at the same time, help the public enjoy smoother journey during the holidays,” said PLUS Managing Director, Dato’ Noorizah Hj Abd Hamid
Among the main strategies introduced this year is to encourage the public in the Klang Valley to head back to their hometowns on Off-Peak Days which are between 13 and 15 July.
A 50% toll rebate will be given to the public travelling more than 100 kilometres on the NSE and ELITE highway and pay toll electronically (via PLUS Miles, Touch ‘n Go cards or Smart TAGs) on 13 and 23 July. A 40% toll rebate, on the other hand, will be offered on 14 and 22 July. Meanwhile, a 30% toll rebate will be given on 15 and 21 July. The toll rebates will be offered all day long on these selected days and not restricted to any particular time.
For example, a journey from the Jalan Duta Toll Plaza to the Alor Setar Selatan Toll Plaza on 13 July will enable the user to enjoy a 50% toll rebate and save RM27.35 from the normal toll fare of RM54.70. The toll rebate can be redeemed at all Customer Service Centres on the PLUS highways between 15 August and 14 November this year.
As implemented during previous festive seasons, PLUS is also issuing a Travel Time Advisory schedule (TTA) for Peak Days travel on the NSE between 16 and 20 July.
The TTA focuses on traffic distribution and is aimed at reducing traffic congestion on the mainline, most notably at major stretches, toll plazas and rest areas. The schedule is based on studies on the public travel pattern during previous festive seasons.
PLUS will also implement various strategies to improve its overall highway operations and level of service during the upcoming festive season.
“Among the initiatives are deploying more staff on the highways and the traffic monitoring centre, increasing the number of PLUS Ronda teams and patrolling loops, stationing emergency rescue teams at strategic locations, providing additional parking areas and portable toilets at major rest areas, providing additional tow trucks at selected locations, deploying more than 3,200 staff at toll plazas, conducting aerial traffic surveillance and many more,” Noorizah explained.
At the same time, PLUS has completed its Fourth Lane Widening Project between Shah Alam-Rawang-Jalan Duta and Nilai Utara Interchange-Seremban highway stretches for smoother travel on the mainline during the holidays.
Additionally, PLUS will also open up the Bandar Ainsdale Interchange, which is located 5km from the existing Seremban Interchange on 10 July to help distribute the traffic at the stretch.
PLUS also advises the public to get the latest traffic updates on the NSE through the PLUSTrafik Twitter service, the PLUS Mobile Apps, the toll free PLUSLine 1800 88 0000, major radio stations and electronic message boards at strategic locations along the highways.
