Budget 2025: Works Ministry Seeks Inclusion Of Proposed Third Phase Of PLUS Widening Project

JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- The Works Ministry is hopeful that the proposed third phase of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) widening project, which spans from Simpang Renggam to Yong Peng Utara, will be included in the Budget 2025 to be tabled this October.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan hoped that the expectation that the Johor government's and residents' desire for the 41-kilometre (km) stretch to be expanded for improved motorist comfort will be duly considered.

“The first phase, extending from Senai Utara to Sedenak over 21 kilometres, has already begun. The second phase, from Sedenak to Simpang Renggam, was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier,” he said.

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“We hope the highway widening project can extend to Yong Peng Utara, and ideally further. We will present this proposal to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance,” he added during a press conference after officiating the Highway Concession Conference (HCC) 2024 at a hotel here. Malaysian Highway Authority chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad was also present.

Ahmad estimated that the cost for the third phase would be around RM1 billion, based on the first phase's cost of RM525 million.

“However, the final decision rests with the Ministry of Finance. We hope that the announcement for this third phase will be included in the Budget 2025 this October,” he said.

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On Oct 12 last year, the government reportedly agreed to expand the PLUS Expressway from four to six lanes between Sedenak and Simpang Renggam in Johor.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, when presenting the Budget 2024, mentioned that the PLUS Expressway widening project in Johor would receive an allocation of RM931 million.

Additionally, on Feb 18 this year, Hasni reportedly said that the widening project from four to six lanes between Senai Utara and Sedenak is scheduled to commence in June and is expected to be completed within 36 months.

In related developments, the Pontian Member of Parliament noted that the government is evaluating effective measures to address congestion issues on the country’s highways, particularly during festive seasons and public holidays.

He stressed that simply attributing congestion to increased vehicle volume is insufficient; instead, efforts should focus on utilising current technology to find effective solutions.

“I urge PLUS and other concession companies to leverage modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), to address congestion, particularly during extended holidays when traffic bottlenecks are common. We need to develop strategies to tackle this issue,” he said.

He noted that while measures such as the introduction of smart lanes at 18 locations and contraflow lanes have been implemented, these need further expansion.

“Smart lanes should be extended in both distance and duration, as their current limited availability does not fully address the congestion problem. There is a need to increase and broaden their use,” he said.

He also suggested that PLUS consider announcing the My Travel Time Advisory (My-TTA) to help users plan their journeys by providing information on optimal travel times, especially during periods of heavy congestion. Additionally, he recommended expanding the use of 'compulsory exits' during severe congestion or accidents.

-- BERNAMA