Toll discounts will keep transporters’ costs down – Sanral

Sanral has rejected transporters’ claims that the open tolling system planned for Gauteng will harm the economy by charging exorbitant fees for heavy vehicles. South African National Roads Agency CEO Nazir Alli told members of the Greater Johannesburg Business Chamber last week that the planned tolls would benefit the economy much more than harm it. Through the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project 42 new tolls generally spaced at some 10km intervals will become operational in the province in 2011. With light motor vehicles expected to pay 50 cents per kilometre, trucks and other heavy vehicles will have to fork out an expected R3.50 a kilometre. Not so, says Alli. “Our calculations based on the savings made when travelling on a good road versus a bad road show a different figure altogether and the R3.50 is also not taking the discounts into account.” Alli said everyone who registered for an e-tag would immediately qualify for a discount, while frequent users of the toll roads would also be given discounts. “Then there are also discounts depending on what time of day you use the toll. We will be announcing the final tariffs that will be applicable before the end of the year. There has been a delay in this announcement due to the discount system we are going to implement, but we hope to have final amounts available before the Christmas holidays.” Alli said if one takes into consideration that the maintenance and repair costs on a good road are estimated around 96 cents compared to the R2.11 on a bad road, using a properly maintained road such as the open toll roads in Gauteng will result in a saving of R1.15. “If the proposed tariff is then R3.50, less 43 cents VAT, less the R1.15 saving, the toll fee is only R1.92 and that is before the discounts. That is also excluding the savings on time and income tax.” Alli said it was common knowledge that when moving from a good condition road to a bad condition road, increases in vehicle maintenance and repair costs could be as much as 121% more. “Before we say that tolling is going to increase the cost of goods and cost the economy more, it is important to see the bigger picture,” said Alli.