VP Gibran Ensures Bayung Lencir Toll Road Development on Target
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming has assured that construction of the Bayung Lencir Toll Road, connecting South Sumatra and Jambi, is proceeding on target, following an inspection of the project on Thursday (16/7).
According to an official statement from the Office of the Vice President received in Jakarta on Friday, Gibran said that completing the toll road on schedule is important to support President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to strengthen inter-regional connectivity and drive economic growth.
“We are ensuring that construction progress runs optimally so that it is completed on target and its benefits are truly felt by the public,” Gibran said.
During the inspection, Gibran was accompanied by Director of Operations III of PT Hutama Karya, Iwan Hermawan, who presented the construction progress and the benefits of the toll section once operational.
“In terms of benefits, this toll road has already delivered travel efficiencies, Mr Vice President, Mr Governor. So what previously took five hours from here to there, if there is no congestion—if there is traffic it could take longer, Mr Vice President—can now be done in just two hours via this toll road. In terms of distance too, it falls from 210 to 170 kilometres, a saving of about 40 kilometres,” said Iwan.
He added that the toll road would also strengthen connectivity between South Sumatra and Jambi, thereby improving the flow of trade whilst helping to reduce congestion.
In addition, the toll road’s construction opens opportunities to utilise non-productive land along the corridor to support the agricultural sector.
According to him, the Betung-Jambi toll section will become an alternative for public mobility whilst also driving economic growth in Jambi Province.
The Betung-Jambi toll section forms part of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road, built to strengthen inter-regional connectivity and support public mobility and logistics distribution.
The Betung-Jambi Toll Road is approximately 170 kilometres long, connecting South Sumatra and Jambi. To date, 52 kilometres of the toll section have been completed, whilst the entire project is targeted for completion in 2027.