648 Km of Trans-Sumatra Toll Road is Fully Operational
Semayang toll gate.(Photo by: pupr.go.id)
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing carried on the construction of Trans-Sumatra Toll Road stretching 2,987 kilometers from Lampung Province located on the southern tip of Sumatra Island to Aceh, the northernmost province in the island.
The toll road is expected to increase interregional connectivity and boost economic growth and equity in Sumatra. In addition, travel time will be cut, leading to efficiency which can double multiplier effect to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
As of 25 November 2020, nine sections of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road (648 kilometers) are fully operational, while the remaining 643 kilometers are still under construction, and the rest is in preparation stage.
The nine sections are, Bakauheni – Terbanggi Besar Toll Road (140.4 kilometers), Terbanggi Besar – Pematang Panggang – Kayu Agung Toll Road (189.4 kilometers), Kayu Agung – Palembang – Betung (Kayu Agung – Jakabring) Toll Roadspanning 29.3 kilometers, Medan – Kualanamu – Tebing Tinggi Toll Road (62.1 kilometers), Belawan – Medan – Tanjung Morawa Toll Road (42.7 kilometers), Palembang – Indralaya Toll Road (21.5 kilometers), Pekanbaru – Dumai Toll Road (131.6 kilometers), Medan – Binjai Toll Road (13 kilometers), and Sigli –Banda Aceh (Section 4 Indrapura – Blang Bintang) spanning 13.5 kilometers.
Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said that the roads are ready for operation ahead of Christmas and 2021 New Year holidays.
“To facilitate Christmas and New Year holidays, the Ministry has ensured roads and bridges infrastructures. The effort is also supported by an increase in the number of toll road sections which are ready for operation and the quality of national roads in Java and Sumatra Islands which always be preserved,” Basuki said on Friday (27/1).
Ahead of the holidays, 41 rest and service areas will be available along Trans-Sumatra Toll Road; 12 of which is located in Bakauheni – Terbanggi Besar Section, nine in Terbanggi – Besar – Pematang Panggang – Kayu Agung Section, two in Medan – Kualanamu – Tebing Tinggi Section, four in Palembang – Indralaya Section, four in Medan – Binjai Section, and 10 in Pekanbaru – Dumai Section.
In addition, toll gates which usually have congestion will be equipped with mobile reader, mobile top up, and electronic money booth.
To anticipate emergencies such as landslide, disaster response teams will be deployed at disaster-prone areas. (Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing PR/UN) (RAS/LW)
