Jokowi claims that citizens want more development of toll roads

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo claimed to have received many requests toll road development from Indonesian citizens. The requests were made after citizens benefited from the toll roads he built over the years.

“The request to develop toll roads is not only in Java, not only in East Java, but every time I visit the region, they always wish for it,” said Jokowi after inspecting a traditional market at Rampal Field, Malang City, East Java on Monday, July 24, 2023.

According to Jokowi, the governors, regent, mayor and regional government officials believed that toll roads could trigger new points for economic growth. This is due to the acceleration of the movement of people and goods. “Because they see the benefits, the requests multiply,” Jokowi said.

Jokowi mentioned that the central government is focusing on development outside of Java. Regarding Java, Jokowi gives the green light for the development of toll roads if the investment rate is acceptable. If the calculation of the internal rate of return (IRR) has not yet been refined, the development could be given to a state-owned company through the state capital contribution mechanism (PMN), or the development could be led by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR). Everything is still being counted, including those in East Java and Malang,” Jokowi said.

1,848 kilometers of toll roads developed

During his nine presidential terms, Jokowi has developed approximately 1,848 kilometers of toll roads. This was five times longer than during the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who built 350 kilometers of toll roads.

The Public Works and Public Works Ministry’s Road Toll Agency (BPJT) reports that until March 2023, the government has developed 1,848.1 kilometers of toll roads, or an average of 264.01 kilometers per year. Previously, at the end of 2014, the total length of active toll roads was 789.82 kilometers. The total length of the toll road until March 2023 was therefore 2,623.51 kilometers. The amount was exponentially higher than in 2019 at 1,298.3 kilometers. In 2024, Jokowi aims for toll roads to increase to 3,196 kilometers.

BPJT director Danang Parikesit said that 49 toll road companies manage 70 toll roads. More specifically, the total length of toll roads in Java is 1,716.15 kilometers, Sumatra is 738.46 kilometers, Kalimantan is 97.27 kilometers, Sulawesi is 61.46 kilometers, and Bali and West Nusa Tenggara are 10.07 kilometers.

M. JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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