Tolls on turnpikes to increase

Tolls on turnpikes to increase

JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to raise tolls on turnpikes
in the country by about 20 percent within the next few months to
help operators cope with rising maintenance costs, a senior
official said here on Wednesday.

The secretary to the state minister of public works, Sunaryo
Sumadji, said the proposal toll increase had been submitted to
the Cabinet secretary for approval.

He said the increase, which would be the first since 1992,
would affect seven toll roads; Jagorawi tollway, Jakarta-
Cikampek, Jakarta-Tanggerang, Tanggerang-Merak, Padalarang-
Cileunyi in West Java, Surabaya-Gempol in East, and the Belawan-
Medan-Tanjung Morawa toll road in North Sumatra.

Sunaryo said most of the country's major toll road operators
had suffered financial losses because costs for road maintenance
had far exceeded their revenues. (hen)