While addressing the inauguration ceremony for the toll road section organized at the Pasuruan-Probolinggo Timur Toll Gate, the head of state was upbeat that easier road access would usher in more rapid development of small- and medium-scaled industrial areas.
"We hope that the completed toll road section will expedite the transportation of people, logistic goods, and materials as compared to earlier," he remarked at the ceremony in which numerous cabinet members and East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa were present.
The Trans-Java toll road, comprising the Pasuran-Probolinggo section, spanning 31.30 kilometers in length, will help visitors reach tourist destinations sooner.
Moreover, the completed toll road with facilitate swifter and easier transportation of supplies of products of small- and medium-scale enterprises, the incumbent president explained, pointing to the length of time taken to complete the construction of the toll road.
"This construction process of the toll road is not instantaneous. Rather, it is a time-consuming process," according to Jokowi, who is eyeing a second term in office by targeting victory in the upcoming presidential elections, scheduled on Apr 17.
With the Pasuruan-Probolinggo toll road section being completed, the Trans-Java Toll Road, from Merak in Banten Province to Probolinggo in East Java Province, has reached a total distance of 962 kilometers.
The Government of Indonesia has outlined a target of completion of the 1,148-km Trans-Java Toll Road, from Merak to Banyuwangi in East Java, in 2021.
"Insya Allah (God willing), the rest 186 km of the toll road will have been completed in 2021," he remarked.
According to ANTARA, infrastructure development appears to be the key focus for Jokowi, as notable extension of toll roads was observed under his government.
Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono pointed out that the construction of some 941 kilometers of toll roads and 3,423 kilometers of national roads was completed during the four-year term of the Widodo-Jusuf Kalla administration.
Work on the Trans-Java Highway that connects the ferry port in Merak, Banten Province, to Surabaya, the capital city of East Java Province, too was concluded, thus reducing the travel time and decreasing the current logistics costs.
Under the central government's focused development projects, construction of toll roads was not merely conducted in Java but also outside the island, including in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.
In Sumatra Island, the government's plan of building toll roads linking the ferry port in Bakauheni, Lampung Province, to cities in Aceh Province, too was completed during the Widodo-Kalla administration's term.
Presently, the Public Works and Housing Ministry has confirmed that work on the Banda Aceh-Sigli toll road section had kicked off, and this 74-kilometer-long toll road, one of the sections of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road, is set to be completed in 2024.
Translator: Hanni Sofia, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
