TOLL MOOTED FOR NEW PRIVATE-BUILT ROADS

Nov 29: A policy proposal mooted by the government-led National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification — Tanfeedh — envisions a toll system for carriageways built with private sector investment.

The initiative, says Tanfeedh, is key to sustaining infrastructure development under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model being championed by the government as a promising pathway to securing the nation’s long-term growth with the private sector playing a supporting role.

“Collection will be done via the latest technologies without having to resort to deploying toll cabins on the roads. Roads will be appropriately valued and tendered for investment purposes and then built by the private sector,” it explained.

Toll fees, however, will be gradually introduced starting with commercial trucks and vehicles, which will be liable to pay a higher sum in fees, while personal cars and such other vehicles, will be charged the lowest.

Under the PPP model being advocated by the government to bring in private investment in infrastructure development, toll roads are likely to be a feature of road transport going forward. The toll roads allow the government to enter into PPPs with the private sector, which then undertakes the design, construction, funding and operation of such carriageways.

As with all of the 121 initiatives unveiled by Tanfeedh earlier this week, the toll system policy proposal is open to feedback from investors and the general public before it is progressed through the adoption and implementation phases.