Govt invites regions to take part in toll projects
Govt invites regions to take part in toll projects
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Following the Jakarta administration's request for the authority
to build six inner-city toll roads, the central government on
Friday announced a new policy of inviting regional
administrations to take part in toll road projects.
The director general for regional infrastructure at the
Ministry of Public Works, Hendrianto Notosoegondo, said the
central government would welcome proposals from regional
administrations that wished to be involved in 38 national toll
road projects, or that wanted to take the initiative to construct
new toll roads in their regions.
"As toll roads are part of national road system, we have the
authority to review and decide where a toll road can be built.
Regional administrations can submit proposals if they want to
build toll roads," he said.
Law No. 38/2004 on infrastructures and Governmental Decree No.
15/2005 on toll roads stipulate that the central government,
through the public works ministry, has the authority to build new
toll roads.
Hendrianto said the involvement of local governments in toll
road projects would ease the huge financial burden on the central
government.
"They can also deal better with land owners because they have
more knowledge of land prices in their regions. Some
administrations also have access to bank loans, so they can help
finance the projects," he said.
To deal with traffic in the city, the Jakarta administration
recently announced plans to build at least six inner-city toll
roads, including the Kemayoran-Kampung Melayu, Rawa Buaya-Sunter-
Kampung Melayu-Duri Pulo, Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu, Ulujami-
Tanah Abang and Pasar Minggu-Casablanca toll roads.
The Jakarta administration said it would begin the ambitious
Rp 23 trillion (US$2.5 billion) project in March next year, and
expected to finish it in four years.
Hendrianto said his office had reviewed the feasibility of the
plan.
"We have unofficially talked with several officials from the
city administration about the project. We have found that at
least the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu toll road fits in with our
national plan, he said.
Besides Jakarta, several other regions, including Riau and
Jambi, have submitted proposals for new toll roads.
Hendrianto announced the government was in the middle of
planning and constructing dozens of toll roads totaling 1,700
kilometers in length nationwide, to help boost economic growth.
"All of the toll roads will cost about Rp 94.63 trillion in
total. Several roads are now under construction or are in the
bidding process, while many others are still in the phase of
feasibility studies," he said.
The planned toll roads include Depok-Antasari, Cinere-Jagorawi
and Cikarang-Tanjung Priok in Greater Jakarta, Cileunyi-Sumedang-
Dawuan and Ciawi-Sukabumi in West Java, Surabaya-Madura in East
Java, and Semarang-Batang in Central Java.