President to inaugurate Cipularang toll road
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
Starting today, car owners will no longer be able to travel for free on the Cikampek-Purwakarta-Padalarang (Cipularang) Toll Road between Jakarta and Bandung.
After a two-month long free trial, the government has decided to impose a toll for cars traveling on it, in conjunction with the toll road's inauguration on Tuesday.
Singgih Susilo, spokesman for toll road operator PT Jasa Marga Purwakarta-Padalarang-Cileunyi, said that the toll road fee had been determined by the government and the House of Representatives (DPR).
"The toll road fee will be imposed starting on Tuesday when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurates the road," Singgih told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
The 41-kilometer long toll road -- from Cikampek to the Padalarang area in Bandung -- shortens the trip from Jakarta to Bandung from five hours to 2.5 hours. The new road, which started operation only few days before the Asia Africa Conference Golden Jubilee kicked off in Bandung city in April, cost the state Rp 1.6 trillion.
The toll road fee has been set at Rp 14,500 for motorists traveling the entire distance of the new toll road, making the total toll cost of traveling from Jakarta to Bandung Rp 29,000.
Public transportation drivers will have to pay a total of Rp 27,000, while large buses and trucks will have to pay Rp 42,500 and Rp 57,000 respectively.
The toll road should have been inaugurated earlier, but was delayed several times due to frequent landslides. Although prone to landslides, the route is popular for Jakartans or Bandung residents needing to travel back and forth between Jakarta and Bandung. It has been reported that a number of restaurants and hostels on alternative routes have seen a significant drop in their sales due to the presence of the new toll road.
Along the toll road there are four bridges. The Cikubang Bridge is claimed to be the highest in the country, being some 60 meters above the ground. While the 700-meter long Cipada Bridge is claimed as the longest in the country.
The presence of the toll road is important due to the huge volume of traffic between the cities. Bandung and its cool, hilly surrounding areas are popular tourist destinations for Jakartans during the weekend and holiday seasons.