Jakarta (ANTARA) - Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono confirmed the readiness of toll and national roads to support traffic during the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year holidays.

Currently, the minister stated that the length of the national road network in Indonesia is 47,603 kilometers, with average stability of 92.2 percent, while operational toll roads are 2,816 kilometers long.

"Toll road construction by the end of 2023 is targeted to be completed at 357 kilometers. By November 2023, some 236 kilometers have been opened for operation and the remaining 121 kilometers can be used during the Christmas and New Year holidays," he remarked on Friday.

According to Hadimuljono, the 1,782 kilometers of toll roads on Java Island are equipped with 92 rest and service areas.

The additional 90.6 kilometers of operational toll roads on Java Island are spread in road sections: the Cinere-Jagorawi toll road, Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu toll road, Cimanggis-Cibitung toll road, Serpong-Cinere toll road, Cibitung-Cilincing toll road, and Pasuruan-Probolinggo toll road, Ciawi-Sukabumi toll road, Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan toll road, and Semarang-Demak toll road.

"The Kutanegara-Sadang section at the Jakarta Cikampek II South toll road and the Kartasura-Karanganom section at the Solo-Yogyakarta-NYIA toll road will also be temporarily opened for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Meanwhile, the national roads on Java Island that are ready for use are 4,581 kilometers long," Hadimuljono remarked.

Furthermore, the 10.1 kilometers of the Bali Mandara toll road and 364.6-kilometer-long national roads in Bali are also ready to use.

The minister also noted that 7,567 kilometers of national roads on Sumatra Island were ready.

His side had prepared additional operational toll sections in Sumatra spanning 146 kilometers at the Sigli-Banda Aceh toll road, Binjai-Langsa toll road, Indralaya-Muara Enim toll road, Indrapura-Kisaran toll road, Kuala Tanjung-Tebing Tinggi-Parapat toll road, and Bangkinang-Tanjung Alai toll road to support the smooth flow of traffic for the holidays.

In Kalimantan Island, the ministry had readied 97 kilometers long section of the Balikpapan-Samarinda toll road and 5,563 kilometers long stretch of the national road. Meanwhile, the 62 kilometers of Makassar toll road and Manado-Bitung toll road had been prepared at Sulawesi Island.

Hadimuljono affirmed that his side has also added an operational toll road of the Makassar New Port access stages 1 and 2, with 18,782 kilometers of national road ready for use on Sulawesi Island.

"We are also improving regional roads through the Regional Roads Presidential Instruction, including toll road access roads in Lampung, tourism access in North Sumatra, access to Puncak Bogor, as well as the Paseh-Congeang section to support the Cisumdawu toll exit," he remarked.

Hadimuljono said his ministry also ensures that no road repair activities would be conducted 10 days before the holidays; information is provided through the Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) application; and toilet cabins, water tank cars, toilet buses, and public hydrants are provided. Disaster response teams are also alerted at disaster-prone locations.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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