"What happened to it? Why has it (construction) not started yet? All plans have been made carefully," State-owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan said.
Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Dahlan Iskan said the government`s plan to build toll roads, stretching from Jakarta to Surabaya in East Java, must move forward in spite of criticism from some quarters.

"What happened to it? Why has it (construction) not started yet? All plans have been made carefully," the minister told reporters here on Friday.

In reference to several analysts` terming the plan to construct toll roads along Java`s coast an odd one, the minister said he respected everyone`s opinions.

"There is nothing in Indonesia that meets no opposition, let alone from observers. In principle, the toll road project must go on," he stated.

Earlier, the minister had said the feasibility of the plans for the Jakarta-Surabaya toll road was yet to be studied.

The cost of the project and technical details could be divulged to the public at the time as the project was still at the feasibility study stage, the minister had stated.

"It is still in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which state companies are expected to work together in the construction of the toll roads from Jakarta to Surabaya," Dahlan had added.

Dahlan had requested the 19 state-owned companies involved in the project to cooperate in the construction of the toll roads that will run along the coast from Jakarta to East Java.

The 19 state-owned companies are PT Jasa Marga, PT Adhi Karya, PT Waskita Karya, PT Wijaya Karya, PT Hutama Karya, PT Pembangunan Perumahan (PP), PT Brantas Abipraya, PT Nindya Karya, PT Istaka Karya, PT Pelindo II, PT Pelindo III, PT Semen Indonesia, PT Krakatau Steel, PT Bank Mandiri, PT Bank BNI, PT Bank BRI, PT Bank BTN, PT Jamsostek, and PT Taspen.

"As the first step, we urge state companies involved to conduct feasibility studies and aim to complete them in six months," the minister had said after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the preparations for the toll road construction projects on Wednesday.

The toll road project is aimed at reducing congestion on Java`s highways and facilitating economic development, he had remarked.

Meanwhile, president of state toll road developer and operator PT Jasa Marga Adityawarman said if the feasibility study is completed within the expected time period and the license is granted, construction of the Jakarta-Surabaya toll road can be completed in 3 years.

"This (project) should be put on high priority to cope with the (traffic) congestion in Java. Just imagine the level of congestion if the project is postponed too long," said Adityawarman.

He said the country`s fast-growing traffic is a reflection of continuing economic development.

New road infrastructure has to be put in place to keep pace with the growing traffic, he explained.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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