Congestion fee for KL proposed

Sunday September 23, 2007

STOCKHOLM: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is proposing to introduce a congestion fee on motorists.

Mayor Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan said discussions on the matter would be held before the end of the year and a paper submitted to the Special Cabinet Committee on Public Transportation chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak early next year.

“The public may object to the proposal initially, but they will accept it after they realise the system will improve traffic conditions in the city,” he told reporters after visiting the Stockholm Traffic Control Centre yesterday.

Earlier, Stockholm traffic manager Henrik Sundquist briefed him on how the congestion fee was implemented in the city.

“There were protests when the system was first implemented in Stockholm but after a six-month trial run, it yielded results. There is no more objection,'' said Abdul Hakim.

He said the way the system was implemented in Stockholm was simple, where vehicles on certain streets would have their registration numbers recorded and the drivers would then have to go to a bank or 7-11 outlet to pay the fee.

He said Stockholm drivers were given two weeks to pay the fee.