Deputy works minister Ahmad Maslan said the road expansion would address congestion, especially during festive seasons, public holidays and weekends, Bernama reported.

He said the concessionaire is in the process of finalising the design work before commencing physical construction.

“This delay is due to a change in shareholders that has only recently been finalised.

“The work is expected to be completed by 2029,” he said when replying to a question from Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan).

The project will be carried out by Afa Prime Bhd (formerly known as Anih Bhd), as the concessionaire for the highway. It will cover 45.3km and cost RM2.1 billion.

The road widening will be from the Gombak toll plaza to Bentong. It will increase the current three lanes to four (from the Gombak toll plaza to Genting Sempah).

Another section of the highway will see an increase from two lanes to three (from Genting Sempah to Bentong).

The work will also include the construction of a new two-lane tunnel adjacent to the existing one heading east.

On a separate matter, Ahmad said the ministry is also conducting a feasibility study for the construction of a road from the Pelangai junction, Pahang, to Putrajaya.

This is to enhance connectivity to the Central Spine Road.

At the same time, the ministry is determining alternative routes to reduce congestion on existing routes from the east coast to the west coast.

Ahmad said the study had been approved in the Rolling Plan 4 of the 12th Malaysia Plan and is scheduled for completion on Aug 12, 2025.

Replying to a supplementary question from Wan Razali on whether the government intended to reduce the operations of the three tolls at Karak, Bentong, and Gombak to one toll at a suitable location, Ahmad said the KL-Karak highway operated under an open toll system and any consolidation from three tolls to one would have implications on the agreements already signed.