Andre Rosiade Oversees Acceleration of Rp 29 Trillion Bukittinggi-Sicincin Toll Road

Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission VI, Andre Rosiade, led a discussion on accelerating the construction of the Pekanbaru-Padang Toll Road’s Bukittinggi-Sicincin section. The meeting gathered all stakeholders, from central and local government, law enforcement, the National Land Agency (BPN), to PT Hutama Karya, to resolve various issues still hampering the Rp 29 trillion national strategic project. In his address, Andre emphasised that the toll road construction is a major momentum for West Sumatra. He stated that connecting the Pekanbaru-Padang Toll Road will strengthen inter-provincial connectivity, ease the distribution of agricultural products, and boost the tourism sector. ‘This Sicincin to Bukittinggi toll road project, valued at Rp 29 trillion, is very beneficial for West Sumatra. Agricultural products will be more easily marketed to Riau, while tourists from Riau will find it easier to come to Bukittinggi, Agam, Tanah Datar, Padang Panjang, and other areas,’ Andre Rosiade said during the coordination meeting held at the West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office hall on Tuesday (14/7/2026). Andre urged all parties to resolve land acquisition issues quickly and wisely. He stressed that the government applies the principle of ‘ganti untung’ (compensation for profit), not just ‘ganti rugi’ (compensation for loss), so the public need not worry about losing their rights. He noted that the biggest problem in West Sumatra often arises after the compensation value is agreed upon, namely internal conflicts over the division of communal land (tanah ulayat) between traditional leaders (niniak mamak) and their kin (kemenakan). He asked local governments, village heads, sub-district heads, traditional leaders, and BPN to anticipate such issues. If necessary, a consignment mechanism can be pursued so that development is not hampered. ‘Do not let development stop because of internal division issues. As long as the price has been agreed upon, the project must proceed for the wider public interest,’ he asserted. Andre also reminded all local governments to show seriousness in supporting the project. He said that infrastructure development of this scale is an opportunity that West Sumatra must seize. ‘We need results, not gimmicks or content. All regional heads must go to the field to resolve issues with the community,’ he said. Head of the West Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office, Dedie Tri Haryadi, affirmed that the prosecutor’s office is ready to provide legal assistance to ensure the land acquisition process complies with regulations and does not cause legal problems in the future. He stated that the High Prosecutor’s Office will provide legal assistance, legal opinions, and legal aid to all stakeholders from the planning to the implementation stages. This assistance also aims to identify potential disputes early so that the project is not delayed due to legal issues. Dedie invited all parties to make the toll road development a success for the progress of West Sumatra. ‘If we love West Sumatra, let’s not hinder this toll road project. Let’s complete it on time and with quality, while preserving forest areas, productive rice fields, and the natural environment,’ he said. The Director of Freeway at the Ministry of Public Works, Dedy Gunawan, expressed hope that the meeting would be the final discussion before entering the stages of environmental impact analysis (Amdal), location determination (Penlok), and land acquisition. He explained that the toll road construction will strengthen connectivity while supporting the development of the tourism sector and agricultural distribution in West Sumatra. Dedy hopes that issues regarding the route, especially in the Agam Regency area, can be resolved in the meeting so that construction can begin this year. ‘We hope it won’t be like the experience on other sections, which took years just to complete the documents. Time was spent on meetings, but the project did not progress,’ he said. Head of the West Sumatra BPN Regional Office, Teddi Guspriadi, confirmed his agency’s readiness to accelerate all stages of land acquisition once the planning documents and location determination are finalised. He said cross-agency coordination is key to ensuring the land acquisition process complies with regulations while providing legal certainty for affected communities. Teddi stated that BPN will ensure every stage is carried out transparently, from inventorying land parcels, identifying ownership status, to determining the amount of compensation according to applicable regulations. He also affirmed BPN’s readiness to coordinate with local governments, traditional leaders, and all stakeholders so that issues regarding communal land or ownership claims can be resolved without hindering the toll road development. Meanwhile, Assistant III of the West Sumatra Regional Secretariat, Medi Iswandi, reading the Governor’s speech, conveyed the West Sumatra Provincial Government’s commitment to fully support the construction of the Pekanbaru-Padang Toll Road. He said the project will improve connectivity, strengthen the agricultural and tourism sectors, create new economic growth centres, and serve as an alternative route for disaster mitigation. He also expressed appreciation to Andre Rosiade for continuously overseeing the development of strategic infrastructure in West Sumatra until it gained the attention of the central government. PT Hutama Karya President Director Koentjoro stated that the experience of building the Padang-Sicincin section shows that land availability is the most decisive factor for project success. He therefore welcomed the support of all parties to ensure the land acquisition process for the Bukittinggi-Sicincin section runs smoothly.