"This toll road needs to be connected to agricultural areas, tourism destinations, plantation areas, and industrial locations. The benefit will be enormous," he said in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Thursday.
The availability of infrastructure in Indonesia should be improved, he added.
Widodo said that the funds for infrastructure development can come from the state budget, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and private partnerships.
To speed up infrastructure development, the government will build toll roads by concurrently using the three financing methods, he said.
"We are working on three toll roads, and the 64.5-kilometer Indralaya-Prabumulih Toll Road has been constructed and will become operational soon," the president said.
The construction of the toll road, which cost Rp12.5 trillion (around US$785 million), began in 2019. Widodo noted that the terrain of the lands in Palembang and Lampung that are passed by the toll road was not easy to build a toll road on.
The investment required to finish the Indralaya-Prabumulih Toll Road has been substantial. However, the toll road's benefits are equally vital for the community's economy, he said.
Toll road construction requires large investments, but the benefits to the country and community will be significant if production can be boosted, he added.
On the same occasion, Widodo also inaugurated the Patih Galung flyover in Prabumulih.
The 64.50-km Indralaya-Prabumulih Toll Road is part of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS). The road passes through Palembang city, Ogan Ilir district, Muara Enim district, and Prabumulih city. It is equipped with 2 interchanges, 1 toll gate, and 1 rest area type A.
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Translator: Indra, Alita, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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