KUALA LUMPUR: There was an increase in traffic flow over the weekend as holidaymakers and others returned to the city from their hometowns after the Deepavali holidays.

       Federal Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Mat Kasim Karim said over 1.5 million vehicles were recorded plying three major highways on Saturday.

       “We recorded 1.27 million vehicles along the North-South Expressway (NSE), 183,087 vehicles along the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and 68,088 vehicles along the East Coast Expressway (Phase One).

       “Checks also showed increased traffic at various toll plazas along these expressways,” he said when contacted.

       Comm Mat Kasim said a comparison between traffic on Saturday and last month also showed an increase in traffic flow at toll plazas.

       “Along the NSE, the Jalan Duta toll plaza showed an 11.98% increase with 64,439 vehicles compared to 57,544 while Sungai Besi toll plaza showed a 1.79% increase with 41,655 vehicles on Saturday compared to 40,924 on Oct 18.

       “The Skudai toll plaza recorded a 37.53% increase with 28,859 vehicles compared to 20,984 vehicles while the Juru toll plaza recorded a 16.87% increase with 47,894 vehicles compared to 40,980 vehicles,” he said.

       Comm Mat Kasim said along the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, a 57.61% traffic increase was observed at the Gombak toll plaza with 110,820 vehicles compared to 70,312 vehicles.

       “At the Bentong toll plaza, it recorded a 54.36% increase with 72,267 vehicles compared to 46,816 vehicles while the Karak toll plaza saw a 62.51% increase with 22,589 vehicles compared to 13,900 vehicles.

       “The higher volume is due to the school holidays and the festive celebrations. Many took advantage of the longer break to travel,” he said.