Indonesia Builds Toll Road Infrastructure Using Loans from JICA

PADANG - The Indonesian government plans to develop the Padang-Bukittinggi-Pekanbaru toll road using a loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This was disclosed by Minister of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono.

The 240-kilometer toll road project not only uses JICA loan but also uses the Government and Business Entities Partnership (KPBU) scheme with an investment value of Rp 35 trillion.

"I have discussed with JICA Japan and last week the team has come to conduct the location survey. Meanwhile, for the option of KPBU scheme can be done through assignment to PT Hutama Karya. Hopefully, it can be decided it can start its implementation in 2018," said Basuki Hadimuljono as reported from pu.go.id (4/9).

In terms of construction, the use of tunnels through the hill will be an option to shorten the distance and reduce the amount of land that must be freed. The Padang-Bukittinggi-Pekanbaru toll road has a very long route so it needs a lot of rest area to be built.

The existence of this rest area will accommodate small and medium micro enterprises (UMKM) of society so that the presence of toll roads although important to accelerate the mobility of goods and services, but not turn off the UMKM economy.

The Padang-Bukittinggi-Pekanbaru toll road will be connected to the Trans Sumatra Toll which is part of the ASEAN Highway. With the existence of this toll road will shorten the distance between Padang-Pekanbaru usually taken 8 to 10 hours to 3 or 4 hours only. Construction of this toll will certainly have an impact on economic improvement for the West Sumatra and Riau provinces in particular and the island of Sumatra in general.