China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG), the operator of the crucial Wellington to Masiaka Toll Road, has formally requested an increase in toll tariffs from the Ministry of Works.
The company justifies the proposed hike by pointing to inflationary pressures and fluctuating exchange rates affecting their operational costs.
If approved, the toll adjustments would see significant increases across vehicle categories: from NLe1 to NLe3 for Tricycles, NLe2 to NLe8 for Cars, NLe4 to NLe14 for Four-wheel drives, NLe18 to NLe35 for Light Trucks, and a substantial jump from NLe183 to NLe1,000 for Heavy-duty Trucks.
The public’s response to these proposed toll increases has been diverse. Advocates argue that such adjustments are imperative to sustain the toll road’s maintenance, while opponents contend that they would disproportionately burden motorists.
This is not the first time such a proposal has been met with resistance in Sierra Leone. In 2017, a similar attempt by CRSG triggered widespread protests, forcing the government to abandon the proposed toll hike.
As discussions unfold, the sensitivity surrounding toll adjustments in the country remains palpable.
