KUALA LUMPUR: The government will take two months to finalise talks with highway concessionaires on toll rate revision. 

Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said yesterday that he was engaging the concessionaires on the matter.

"We are in a serious, concerted mode in engaging the concessionaires.

"We are moving forward," he said after opening the International Conference on Construction and Building Technology 2008 here.

Early last month, Zin had said toll rates and highway concession agreements that burdened the people were being reviewed in view of the rising cost of living.

He had also said a toll review mechanism to gauge traffic volume and toll collected at the 22 highways nationwide could result in lower toll and re-negotiations of the agreements.

Asked on the response from the toll concessionaires, Zin said they understood the need to "soften" on the issue.

Asked whether the talks could result in either lowering or maintaining the current toll rates, Zin smiled, nodded his head and quipped: "Doakanlah (let's just pray)."

On the East Coast Highway, he said the final alignment involving the Kuala Terengganu-Kota Baru stretch had not been determined.

He said the ministry was doing a basic feasibility study, taking into account factors such as estimated construction costs and design.

"The study will take 18 months to complete. 

"We are doing it now to enable the project to take off immediately under the 10 Malaysian Plan," he said.