
Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the project was necessary to reduce traffic congestion along the stretch, especially during weekends and festive seasons.
He said the proposed project, estimated to cost RM525 million, had been included in the Third Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan.
However, Nanta said the implementation of the project was subject to allocations under Budget 2023, which will be tabled this Friday.
“If the project is implemented using government funds, there will be no increase in toll rates for highway users,” he said in reply to a question from Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) about the status of the project during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Nanta said expanding the whole 195km stretch of highway from Ayer Keroh (Melaka) to Johor Bahru would cost RM7.5 billion.