Kuala Lumpur, March 21 (NNN-Bernama) A sum of RM23.66 billion has been collected by 19 highway concessionaires since the introduction of the highway privatisation concept until last year, Malaysian Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Tuesday. (rm1=0.2860usd)
He said the amount included toll collections on two bridges -- the Penang bridge and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing (Linkedua).
In written answers at the Dewan Rakyat Parliament) Tuesday, Samy Vellu said that until the end of last year, an average of RM41 million was spent to maintain all the highways and bridges concerned.
Samy Vellu explained that about RM5.9 billion was spent to build the North-South Highway and RM27.83 million was the monthly cost of maintaining it.
The 50-year concession period for that highway began in 1988.
He further said that the amount of toll collected for the Penang bridge was RM1.7 billion while that of the North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite) stood at RM1.05 billion.