President to inaugurate Cipularang toll road
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.