I hope with the new toll road, the speed of mobility of people, logistics, and services will be enhanced to bolster the competitiveness of products made in Riau province.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has expressed the hope that the new 30.9-kilometer Pekanbaru-Bangkinang toll road in Kampar district, Riau, will bolster the provincial economy and boost the competitiveness of local products.

"I hope with the new toll road, the speed of mobility of people, logistics, and services will be enhanced to bolster the competitiveness of products made in Riau province," he said at the toll road’s inauguration, which was followed on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Wednesday.

The President also expressed the hope that the toll road, as a part of the inter-provincial Pekanbaru-Padang toll road network, will open new economic centers.

"In the end, new jobs will be created, and people's prosperity will be realized," he said.

The Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road in the province, which opened earlier in 2020, recorded a high traffic volume of 8 thousand vehicles daily, Widodo noted and expressed the hope that residents would welcome the Pekanbaru-Bangkinang toll road with the same level of enthusiasm.

The government will continue developing toll road networks in Riau province to ensure the Rp4.8-trillion Pekanbaru-Bangkinang toll road is connected to the Pekanbaru Outer Ring Road in the future, Widodo affirmed.

"Hence, the Dumai-Pekanbaru-Bangkinang (toll road) will continue to Padang (in West Sumatra). When will the toll road be complete? I cannot say it right now because the process is still a long way," the President said.

Earlier, head of the Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT), Danang Parikesit, said that the trial operation of the Pekanbaru-Bangkinang toll road was conducted during the 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year's Day period.

During the trial period, an average of 7 thousand toll road transactions were recorded on the toll road daily, he said."During the Christmas and New Year's Day period (the toll road) was in operation, and some 3–4 thousand vehicles passed the toll road, but the toll road transaction reached 7 thousand. This demonstrates high interest among the people to use the toll road," Parikesit added.


Related news: Jokowi visits Riau to observe toll road project, mass vaccination
Related news: Ensuring human-elephant coexistence along Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road
Related news: Jokowi to inaugurate Pekanbaru-Dumai toll road on Friday virtually








Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023