KUALA LUMPUR: Motorists using the Metramac Highway will no longer need to pay toll from today.



In a populist measure, the government has abolished toll collection at the plazas in the direction of Cheras and Petaling Jaya with immediate effect.



Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the move would benefit some 100,000 users of the highway, especially residents of Bandar Permaisuri, Bandar Tun Razak and the surrounding areas.



"With the abolition of this toll, it is estimated that RM180mil in toll collection will have to be foregone while the government also will not need to pay any compensation as per the agreement to close this toll collection early," he said at a ceremony to mark the toll abolition at the Cheras toll plaza of the highway Monday night.



The toll rates at the highway (both directions) were RM0.50 (Class 1 vehicles), RM1 (Class 2 and 3), RM0.30 (Class 4) and RM0.50 (Class 5).



On Jan 28, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced that toll collection on the highway would be discontinued before the concession period ended in 2018.