Because of over excitement, several drivers might exceed the speed-limit. It is dangerousManado, N Sulawesi (ANTARA) - The Manado-Bitung toll road operator has appealed to drivers not to exceed speed limit and violate traffic signs and rules when passing through the 26.35-km-long Manado-Danowudu toll road section that President Joko Widodo had inaugurated on Sept 29.
"Because of over excitement, several drivers might exceed the speed-limit. It is dangerous," Director of PT Jasa Marga Manado-Bitung George Manurung was quoted by ANTARA in Manado, North Sulawesi Province, as saying on Sunday.
The toll road users should maintain discipline on the road by respecting any traffic sign, he said, adding that the Manado-Bitung toll road is opened for 24 hours but it is operated gradually starting from the Kauditan to Danowudu toll gates.
The drivers must ensure that they have e-toll cards before entering the toll gate though they are not yet charged for passing through the Manado-Danowudu toll road section for two weeks since its inauguration on Sept 29, he said.
The inauguration of the 26.35-km-long Manado-Danowudu toll road section, which is part of the 40-km-long Manado-Bitung toll road, was held via video conferencing from the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java Province.
The toll road will later be completed with five toll gates: Manado, Airmadidi, Kauditan, Danowudu, and Bitung.
The Manado Bitung toll road was scheduled to be completed in June, 2021. It will reduce Bitung International Seaport's logistics costs and improve North Sulawesi's industrial competitiveness, according to President Joko Widodo.
"The presence of this toll road will make the logistics costs from Bitung International Seaport get reduced so that it will be more efficient," President Widodo said while inaugurating the Manado-Danowudu toll road section on Sept 29.
President Jokowi said the toll road would improve North Sulawesi Province's industrial competitiveness because it would allow the province to expedite the development of the economic hub in the Bitung Special Economic Zone.
He emphasized this point as an opportunity for the North Sulawesi provincial government to attract more investors to the Bitung SEZ.
The Manado-Bitung toll road would also increase connectivity; open road access to the strategic tourism zone of Manado-Bitung-Likupang and to Lembeh Island; and, help new business activities thrive so that more job opportunities can be created, he said.
North Sulawesi's economy has huge potential for development, he added. It has a fishery industry in Bitung and other sectors as agriculture, plantation, and tourism which can be further developed, the President noted.
Related news: Manado-Danowudu Toll road will boost North Sulawesi's tourism: Jokowi
Related news: Manado-Bitung toll road will reduce logistics costs: President Jokowi
Translator: Karel AP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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