It will only take about one to two hours to travel from Lubuk Linggau City (in South Sumatra Province) to Bengkulu City (in Bengkulu Province) through the road.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry is trying to expedite the construction of Lubuk Linggau - Curup - Bengkulu toll road to improve the local economy and connectivity.

“The construction of the toll road will reduce logistics costs and delivery time of goods and services. In addition, the infrastructure will encourage the growth of new economic centers," PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said in a statement on Sunday.

The Lubuk Linggau - Curup - Bengkulu toll road, which is a part of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road, has a length of 95.8 kilometers (km).

The road is managed by state-run toll road business entity (BUJT) PT Hutama Karya (Persero).

It is divided into three sections, including Lubuk Linggau - Kepahiang section (54.5 km), Kepahiang - Taba Penanjung section (23.7 km), and Taba Penanjung - Bengkulu section (17.6 km).

"The construction progress of the Taba Penanjung - Bengkulu section has reached 96.51 percent. The section is targeted to be completed and operated in near future. Meanwhile, the Lubuk Linggau - Kepahiang and Kepahiang - Taba Penanjung sections are still in the preparation stage," the minister informed.

He expressed the hope the construction of the toll road, which is integrated with the development of the Baai Port, can benefit the local government, businessmen, and the community to increase the regional economy and facilitate the tourists visiting Bengkulu Province.

"It will only take about one to two hours to travel from Lubuk Linggau City (in South Sumatra Province) to Bengkulu City (in Bengkulu Province) through the road," he said.

Hadimuljono said that his party continues to expedite the construction of infrastructures which connect production centers to areas that have great development potentials.

In addition, the construction of infrastructures can open new business opportunities, create jobs, and accelerate added value for the people's economy.

Meanwhile, the total length of Trans Sumatra Toll Road network is 2,837 km. It consists of a 1,913-km main toll road and a 924-km feeder toll road.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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