NUSAJAYA: Iskandar Malaysia Public Transport Corporation is considering imposing a levy on Singapore-registered vehicles entering the country.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said it was estimated that over 200,000 vehicles commuted between the two countries every day.
He said the levy would reduce the congestion at the entrance to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Johor Baru and could also encourage more to use public transport.
"Public transport users make up only 14 per cent of the commuters," he said at a recent state assembly sitting.
"The fees collected will be used to develop road infrastructure, carry out maintenance works and provide better public transport.
"We aim to have a convenient, reliable and effective public transport system," he said.
He said it is hoped that the levy would change the mind set of motorists in Iskandar Malaysia and encourage them to switch to public transport.
"The levy is part of a long-term development management plan which focuses on reducing the number of foreign-registered vehicles coming into the country to control the traffic volume," he said.
He said about 70 per cent of vehicles on the road were privately owned and a strategic plan was required to solve the issue of traffic congestion.
