Views of the Padang-Sicincin Toll Road, a Favourite Among Locals During Eid Holiday

The Padang-Sicincin toll road has become a favourite among locals during Eid al-Fitr 1447 H. Many residents are utilising the toll road to head to Padang and holiday in Padang Panjang and Bukittinggi. CNBC Indonesia tried out the toll road during the Eid break. The toll road, which was officially opened last year, was quite busy with traffic from early morning. This first toll road in West Sumatra spans 36 km. The road surface is notably smooth and equipped with adequate street lighting. There are two rest areas on the left and right sides, providing ample parking spaces, a mosque, and restaurants. The travel time required is around 30 minutes to reach the Kapalo Hilalang toll gate. The toll fee for Category I is Rp50,500, for Categories II-III Rp75,500, and for Categories IV-V Rp100,500. Rina, a resident of Medan who is returning home to Padang, said she is greatly helped by the existence of this toll road. According to her, this new infrastructure has successfully shortened travel time to Padang. She also used the toll road to holiday in tourist areas like Bukittinggi. “It’s nice that there’s a toll road now, it’s much faster,” she told CNBC Indonesia. Not only that, Rina also enjoyed the beautiful scenery while passing through the toll road, with vast rice fields as well as mountains and hills around the toll road. “The views are also great, so it’s fun,” she said. This aligns with data from PT Hutama Karya (Persero) on 24 March 2026, which recorded 9,940 vehicles crossing the Padang-Sicincin toll road, an increase of 441.98% compared to normal traffic. Nevertheless, the presence of the toll road is not without criticism from road users. Rian, who often passes through the area, admitted that the fees charged are quite expensive. According to him, given the economic level of West Sumatra residents, the fees should be lower.