The main alignment of PLUS Highway spanning from Juru in the north to Skudai in the south will commence toll collection via RFID (radio frequency identification) beginning from January 15th 2022, exactly a month from today.
The Works Ministry (Kementerian Kerja Raya) announced that with this implementation, the tolled highway network infrastructure of the Peninsular Malaysia West Coast will offer road users a service that is safer, faster and tremendous reduction in congestions at toll plazas. RFID lanes will only be opened to light private vehicles, according to the press release.
With RFID technology, road users can glide through the toll plazas at up to speeds of 30 km/h. Toll collection through SmartTAG and Touch ‘n Go card are still being accepted but the ministry intends to gradually phase out the methods once more RFID lanes are implemented on the highways.
The roll-out of the faster Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) technology by 2026 meanwhile will see drivers make payments without the need to slow down at toll plazas, as scanners mounted on gantries will perform the transaction.
Road users can purchase the RFID tag from their smartphone via the Touch ‘n Go eWallet or at appointed sales agents but self-installation is required. For those who prefer the RFIG tag to be installed at a one-stop store, there are 39 fitment centres listed nationwide with more outlets planned to be added in the future.
The implementation of RFID toll collection on PLUS highway comes nearly two years after the initial timeline of April 2020, no thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
