PLUS offers up to 50% rebates to motorists who travel during off-peak periods

PETALING JAYA: The balik kampung exodus this year is expected to be bigger than in previous years due to the long weekend holiday for Hari Raya.

Highway concessionaire PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) anticipates some 1.6 million vehicles will use the North-South Expressway (NSE) on peak days throughout the festive period.

To encourage motorists to travel during off-peak periods, PLUS is offering toll rebates of up to 50% to the public who pay toll electronically during this period.

"The toll rebate will be given to Class 1 vehicle users paying toll electronically on off-peak days on July 13, 14, 15, 21, 22 and 23. The rebate is for those travelling more than 100km on PLUS highways," PLUS managing director Datuk Noorizah Abd Hamid said at a press conference yesterday.

The rebate will be applicable for those using PLUSMiles, Touch 'n Go and SmartTAG's on selected dates from July 13 to 23.

Noorizah said these rebates are to encourage motorists to travel on off-peak days in efforts to reduce traffic congestion.

Noorizah added that PLUS had completed its fourth lane widening project between Shah Alam, Rawang, Jalan Duta and the Nilai Utara Interchange-Seremban sections.

"These lanes are to ensure ease of traffic flow during these periods. The cumulative distance of these lanes is around 63km," she said.

Noorizah also explained that there will be a 20% increase in overall traffic this year, but warned that the percentage of traffic increase depends on the area.

"For instance, the Slim River to Simpang Pulai route will see a 180% surge in traffic during this period," she said.

Noorizah also urged travellers to plan their trips according to the traffic situation so that they will not have to grind through the jam on the highway.

"We have prepared the Travel Time Advisory (TTA) from the July 16 to 20 on the NSE which focuses on reducing traffic congestion on the mainline, most notably major stretches, toll plazas and rest areas," she said, adding that the schedule was based on the statistics and travel patterns of previous Raya seasons.

"Based on our studies, the higher adoption rate of the advisory by highway users has resulted in smoother traffic flow," she said.

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