Government Ensures Thorough Preparation for MLFF Trial

The government will recommence trials of the non-stop, touchless toll road payment system known as Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF). Head of the Toll Road Regulatory Agency, Wilan Oktavian, stated that the implementation of the MLFF payment system had indeed experienced stagnation. At the end of last year, the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) recommended that the Highway Authority (BPJT) continue or recommence the MLFF trials. “This is because there were previously two differing claims, where BPJT or BUJT stated that the system had not succeeded, while Roatex stated that the system had succeeded,” said Wilan Oktavian during the Minister of Public Works’ Silaturahmi with the media on Thursday (2/4) in Jakarta. For this reason, he said, they plan to recommence trials conducted end-to-end. The testing will cover the entire process from users downloading the app, using the system, to payments being properly received by the Toll Road Business Entity (BUJT). According to him, there are several agreed stages for the trial implementation, namely pre-trials to be conducted in the near future. At this stage, Roatex, as per the contract, is obligated to prepare the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the trials. In preparation for the Trial TOR, a functional test was conducted from 3 to 5 March. The functional test focused more on demonstrating the features of the CANTAS app and positive scenarios,” explained Wilan. In the near future, a second stage functional test will be conducted to complete the readiness of the toll road infrastructure to be used. Once all preparations are met, comprehensive pre-trials will be carried out. “For the implementation timeline target, the principle is the sooner the better,” Wilan concluded. The MLFF was initiated 10 years ago, specifically during Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Indonesia in 2016. The project is being handled by the Hungarian technology company Roatex Ltd. through its subsidiary, PT Roatex Indonesia Toll System (RITS). Funding for the MLFF project comes entirely from the Hungarian government, amounting to US$300 million or approximately Rp4.65 trillion. MLFF, he added, is a solution to address the increasing congestion at toll gates, which causes economic losses to Indonesia of US$300 million every year. The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) continues to refine plans for implementing the non-cash, touchless, non-stop toll transaction system or Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF).