By Stephen V. Lansana
The Minister of Works and Public Assets said on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, that the Wellington/Masiaka tollgate fees will increase by March 1, 2024.
Dr. Denis Sandy made this disclosure during a regular government press conference in Freetown.
For some stations, there will be more than 150 percent increasement in fees.
The tollgate stations are located along Hastings, Songo and Masiaka.
Current Prices
Here are the current prices per station: Le1 for tricycle (keke), Le2 for sedan/taxi car, Le 4 for minibus (Poda Poda) or Jeep, Le 18 for Coach, Pick Up, light and medium truck, fuel bowser Le100, and Le183 for heavy truck, tractor and trailer unit.
Proposed Prices
Here are the new prices which will be effective on March 1, 2024: Le 3 for tricycle (Keke), Le 5 for sedan/taxi car, Le 10 for Minibus (Poda Poda) or Jeep, Le 40 for Coach, Pick Up, light and medium truck, fuel bowser Le250 and Le 700 for heavy truck, tractor and trailer unit.
The Tollgate payment started effectively from Friday August 18, 2017.
Chinese funded project, which involves the widening of a 62km two-lane highway into four, has provoked heated debate.
The China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) constructed the road under a Build, Operate and Transfer agreement.
The road, which runs from Wellington in the east end of Freetown to the northern business town of Masiaka, is estimated to cost US$161 million.
Explaining what he called the savings made by government during the price increase negotiation between them and CRSG, the Minister disclosed that CRSG proposed Le 6 for tricycle (Keke), but the government negotiated for Le 3. “So when the new tollgate (fees) will be announced on March 1, Keke will now pay a new rate of Le 3 at each tollgate instead of Le 1,” he added.
He said that the taxis are currently paying Le 2, but CRSG has proposed Le 11, adding that the Committee which was set up by government to negotiate the new prices for tollgate pleaded for Le 5 which was approved.
He said for the Jeep/Minibus or Poda Poda, CRSG proposed Le 27 but the Committee pleaded for Le 10, adding that for Coach, Pick Up, Light and Medium trucks which are current paying Le18, the CRSG proposed Le 105, but they agreed on 40. “There is a savings of substantially Le 65,” he said.
He said that for the heavy truck, tractor and trailer unit, which is Le 183, the Chinese Company proposed Le 2, 103, but the government negotiated for Le 700.
Minister Sandy claimed that Chinese Company is losing about US$ 6 million. “If you see the calculations done by CRSG, you don’t need to be a Mathematician before knowing that the prices are really reasonable because they (CRSG) is losing US$ 6 million,” Minister Sandy claimed.
Citizens say the new fees are too high and will lead to increase in fares and consequent hike in the cost of living.