KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Expressway Bhd is gearing up for the holiday rush, setting up extra services to ensure that the 1.3 million motorists expected to hit the North-South Expressway daily will have a safe and smooth drive. 

PLUS managing director Noorizah Abdul Hamid said one of the additional services is a travel advisory system through short messaging.

PlusMA will be in operation from tomorrow to Feb 11. For 30 sen per SMS, road users can get information on traffic conditions en route to their destinations. 

From tomorrow, leaflets will be handed out at all toll plazas explaining the system and giving the codes for the various destinations. 

PLUS has also placed advertisements in all the major newspapers, explaining how to use the system. 

Noorizah said if motorists follow the advisory, traffic congestion would be reduced and that the system worked well during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday.

In addition, PLUS is increasing the number of parking spaces at rest stops, beefing up surveillance and placing emergency response teams at strategic locations along the highway.

"Manpower will be increased by 60 per cent during the festive season and all toll lanes at all plazas will be open. We will also add 30 per cent more lanes." 

Around 330 People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) members will be stationed at rest areas and toll plazas to help manage the congestion.