RESIDEBTS of Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya are crying foul over the need to pay RM1.60 for toll whenever they pass the PJS2 toll plaza at the New Pantai Expressway (NPE).

They say they have no choice but to pass through the help of Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Mohamed Talha about reducing the toll charges which they said were too high.

"The residents argue that the toll fare was not justifiable as the road was merely upgraded and not newly created, and the distance is too short," said Haniza.

"There have also been accidents at the toll plaza due to the short distance between the toll gate and the Federal Highway and Sunway exits.

"We asked NPE to propose some solutions to resolve the problem," she added.

Haniza cited the example of the Penang Bridge concessionaire, which provides discounts for locals who use the Penang Bridge toll via a Touch 'n Go card system that detects the users' address, and an alternative route to bypass the toll, similar to Sun way Toll Plaza on the LDP Expressway.

"We will use the proper channels and if necessary raise the issue in Parliament if we have to.

"Our priority is to come up with a solution that benefits the residents and doesn?t burden the toll concessionaire, although the residents want the toll plaza removed.

"The meeting with NPE was positive and we hope the discussion is the first step towards hopefully creating win-win situation for everybody."

Haniza said the next meeting with the NPE would be held on May 16.

"The NPE representatives claimed that they did propose some suggestions which was turned down by the authorities," she said, adding that the toll issue was one of those which she said she would address in he elections manifesto. 

"They also proposed to have a joint meeting with MPs and assemblymen from the areas affected by the expressway such as Bangsar, Seputeh and Subang Jaya, to discuss the congestion and safety issues," she added.