It is hoped that the toll road can be one of the solutions to overcome heavy traffic at the region -- especially regarding the transport of commodities.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Construction work has begun on the 96.57-km Solo-Yogyakarta-Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) Kulon Progo Toll Road, which is expected to benefit the economy, Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono has said.

The toll road – which will connect a number of vital areas -- will reduce logistics costs, increase Indonesia's competitiveness to attract investment, as well as accelerate the development of tourism destinations, Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said in a written statement received here on Friday.

"It is hoped that the toll road can be one of the solutions to overcome heavy traffic in the region -- especially regarding the transport of commodities," he added.

In addition, the project, which will connect Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, is expected to further facilitate economic connectivity in the industrial, goods, and service sectors as it will be linked to the Semarang-Solo section of the Trans Java Toll Road, Hadimuljono said.

It can also improve accessibility to tourist areas in the southern region of Java Island, for instance, the Borobudur Temple Super Priority Tourism Destination, he added.

Related news: Solo-Yogyakarta toll road construction to commence in November 2020

The construction of the Solo-Yogyakarta-YIA Kulon Progo Airport Toll Road comprises three sections and nine interchanges, he informed.

The first section, Kartosuro-Purwomartani, spans 42.37 km and its construction has currently reached 2.07-percent completion, the minister said.

The construction of the section is being carried out by state-owned construction company PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk and is targeted to be completed in September 2022, he added.

Meanwhile, the 23.43-km Section II (Purwomartani-Gamping) and 30.77-km Section III (Gamping-Purworejo) are still in the preparation stage and will be completed in 2024, Hadimuljono said.

The toll road will be managed by toll road business entity PT Jogjasolo Marga Makmur, with an investment of Rp26.63 trillion and a concession period of 40 years, he added.

The completion of the Kartosuro-Purwomartani section, which will be connected to the Trans Java Semarang-Solo section, is expected to make a significant contribution to improving the economy of the people in the golden triangle area of Joglosemar (Yogyakarta-Solo-Semarang), the minister said.

Meanwhile, Sections II and III are expected to ease traffic movement around the Sleman-Yogyakarta-Wates and Purworejo region as well as create a multiplier effect for local economic growth, especially the tourism sector in Borobudur Temple, he added.

Related news: Construction of toll road in Yogyakarta being reviewed: Minister

Translator: Aji Cakti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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