PETALING JAYA: SmartTag and TouchNGo users do not need to worry as the lanes will still be around despite the launch of RFID lanes along the North-South Expressway (NSE), says Plus.

       In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 5) Plus Strategic Stakeholder Engagement head Syed Mohammed Idid said a total of 164 RFID toll lanes would be opened from Juru, Penang to Skudai, Johor on Jan 15.

       "From Jan 15, 2022, they (road users) can now travel interstate for Pasembor or Laksa Johor from every other highway network using their RFID,” said Syed Mohammed.

       "As for highway customers who are currently using SmartTag and TnGo Card you are still most welcome to do so," he added.

       Syed Mohammed said that the RFID rollout at the entire open and closed toll highways across the network would provide convenience to 1.5 million existing RFID users who could travel interstate.

       Previously, he added that the users could only use the system for intra-city travels on urban highways.

       RFID stands for radio frequency identification and is a system that provides a cashless payment alternative for motorists as they can pay using their Touch ‘n Go e-wallet.

       On the system, Syed Mohammed said each toll plaza would have a minimum of one entry and exit RFID payment lane and added that more lanes might be added depending on the supply and demand situation.

       In December last year, Plus said that the timeline of it replacing SmartTag would depend on the rate of adoption by motorists.

       Nevertheless, the government had set a target to introduce a multi-lane free flow (MLFF) highway dependent on RFID by 2026.

       MLFF highway is a barrier-less highway where drivers make contactless payment by driving under gantries equipped with scanners, rather than through toll plazas with barriers.