Johor Causeway: Govt Aims To Reduce Peak-hour Congestion By Up To 70 Per Cent

JOHOR BAHRU,  Feb 25 (Bernama) -- The government aims to reduce peak-hour congestion at the Johor Causeway by up to 70 per cent in preparation for the 2026 Visit Malaysia Year, ensuring a smoother experience for international visitors.

Home Ministry Deputy Secretary General (Policy and Control)  Datuk Makhzan Mahyuddin said 50 initiatives have been planned across four phases since 2019, with 58 per cent of them already completed.

"Previously, the peak-hour congestion was between 3.45 and 4.30 am, but it has now shifted to 6.30 am. In the past, individuals had to spend up to three hours going through procedures at the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex (CIQ). Today, that time has been reduced to less than an hour.

"We are confident that as more short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives are completed, the processing time will be further reduced," he told a press conference following a media tour on initiatives to ease congestion at the Johor Causeway, held at CIQ Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) today.

One of the key measures introduced by KDN to alleviate peak-hour congestion is the addition of counters equipped with a quick response (QR) code system for all modes of transport, including motorcycles, buses, and cars.

“Currently, eight counters for motorcycle entry and eight for motorcycle exit have been equipped with QR code systems, along with two counters for bus transport. Our goal is to expand this system to all counters," he added.

He said the initiative will be further refined during the Special Committee Meeting to Address Congestion at the Johor Causeway, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof in Kuala Lumpur on March 3.

Among the 29 out of 50 completed initiatives are the replacement of the Royal Malaysian Customs scanning machines, the implementation of a contra-flow route at the entryway, improvements to the BSI electrical system, and the integration of toll payment with the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system at a single location.

Spanning 232,237 square meters (2.49 million square feet), BSI is the largest CIQ complex in Malaysia. On Dec 20 last year, it recorded its highest-ever daily visitor movement, with 375,828 people passing through.

-- BERNAMA