"Mr. President has ordered us to make improvements, namely to increase the number of rest areas and improve facilities in each existing rest area," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, informed here on Monday.
He conveyed this after a meeting held to evaluate the 2024 Eid exodus implementation at the Presidential Palace.
Based on the President's instruction, the government will build a new rest area at KM 97 of the Tangerang-Merak Toll Road without delay, which is expected to become a buffer zone to prevent the accumulation of vehicles from Jakarta headed to Merak Port, he said.
President Widodo has also approved the revitalization of Jangkar Port in Situbondo, East Java.
The port revitalization is not only aimed at handling the Eid travel flow, but also assisting people crossing from Java Island to West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and several small islands around Madura Island.
"With the Jangkar Port revitalization in Situbondo, it will ease the burden on Ketapang and Gilimanuk ports," Minister Effendy said.
Meanwhile, regarding the addition of rest areas, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that he will coordinate with Public Work and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono to take care of the land acquisition for rest area construction.
He revealed that the government will acquire around 10 to 15 land squares, each measuring five hectares in width, for rest stop development in the Cipali area and for the toll road in the direction of Merak Port.
"The rest area is for resting, but it is also as a place to delay the volume of vehicles heading somewhere," Sumadi explained.
The government will also gradually replace the e-toll card tapping system with a contactless system to reduce queues at toll gates.
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Translator: Yashinta P, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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