Construction of Jakarta-Serpong toll road starts
TANGERANG, West Java (JP): Construction of the Rp 250 billion ($106 million) Jakarta-Serpong toll road began yesterday with a ceremony led by Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar in Rawabantu village, Serpong, West Java.
The first part of the project, covering 7.2 kilometers and extending from Serpong to Pondok Aren (South Jakarta), will be undertaken by PT Bintaro Serpong Damai, a consortium comprising PT. Bumi Serpong Damai, PT. Aji Baraga Mustika and PT. Jaya Real Property.
The second part, from Pondok Aren to Ulujami (South Jakarta) covering 5.9 kms, will be built by PT Jasa Marga, the state-owned toll road construction and operating company.
Budiarsa Sastrawinata, president of the consortium, said that besides building the toll road, his company has also been given a 27-year concession to operate and maintain the toll road in cooperation with Jasa Marga.
Construction of the four-lane Serpong-Pondok Aren section will be divided into two phases, one stretching from Serpong to Kali Angke, and another from Kali Angke to Pondok Aren, Budiarsa said.
The project is expected to be completed within 15 months, he added.
The Jakarta-Serpong toll road has been included in the Serpong district's master plan. It is part of the Jakarta-Serpong-West Tangerang toll road, which will provide the rapidly growing Serpong district with quick access to the South Jakarta outer ring-road and also to other districts in South Jakarta.
The consortium said the toll road is also meant to help ease traffic congestion on the Jakarta-Tangerang-Merak toll road, especially traffic bound for South Jakarta.
Residents and workers in Ciputat, Pamulang, Puspitek, ITI, Bumi Serpong Damai, Bintaro Jaya and Tangerang industrial zones, will also benefit from the toll road, it said.
The new road is also expected to help stem the rapid urbanization of Jakarta, and encourage new arrivals to settle in Serpong as well as support the development of neighboring Rangkasbitung and other surrounding areas. (oby/26)