Toll road projects may resume

JAKARTA (JP): The director general of highway (Bina Marga) at the Ministry of Public Works, Tjuk Sudarsono, asked investors to continue their delayed toll road projects.

Sudarsono said investors facing financial difficulties should discuss the matter with his office, but warned them not to rely too much on the government's help.

"If they have problems they need to discuss it with us, but please don't ask too much from the government," Sudarsono was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.

There are seven toll road projects -- six in Jakarta and one in West Java -- which have been delayed following the economic crisis.

The 5.5-kilometer Pondok Aren-Ulujami toll road project was halted with only 31 percent of work on the project completed. The 26.3-kilometer Palimanan-Cirebon toll road project in West Java was stopped with 77 percent of work completed.

The other five delayed toll road projects are the Jakarta Outer Ring Road projects.

The 9.7-kilometer Penjaringan-Kebon Jeruk toll road was halted with 15 percent of the work completed; the 11.2-kilometer Kebon Jeruk-Pondok Pinang toll road with 16.6 percent; the 26.6- kilometer Pondok Pinang-Cikunir toll road with around 90 percent; the 19-kilometer Cikunir-Tanjung Priok toll road with 24 percent; and the 22.4-kilometer Kapung Melayu-Cawang-Bekasi toll road with 6.1 percent.(udi)