Gov’t Takes Over Bogor-Ciawi-Sukabumi Toll Road Construction

President Joko Widodo accompanied by Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono inspects the construction of Bocimi Toll Road, on Tuesday (21/6), in Bogor

The construction of 54-km-Bocimi Toll Road connecting Bogor, Ciawi, and Sukabumi must be finished by 2018.

The instruction was delivered by President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo in his working visit to inspect the construction of Bocimi Toll Road on Tuesday (21/6), in Bogor, West Java.

The groundbreaking of the toll road has been conducted four times but it cannot be carried on. The first groundbreaking has started in 1997; yet the road, even 1 meter has not been built.

“We will carry out the construction. The first section has begun. Its land acquisition process is 94.7 percent done and it will be followed by the second, third, and fourth section,” the President told reporters.

Although Waskita Karya as the contractor of Bocimi Toll Road promised to finish the construction in 2019 the President has given 2018 deadline to finish the project.

“The first section will be finished in 2017”, President Jokowi added.

The President admitted that the private sector used to have concessions on Bocimi Toll Road; since they did not construct the road, the Government took it over.

“The investors have never started the project even though the groundbreaking was conducted. The project handover from private to the Government is not the first or second case in the country. We can find the same situation in Ngawi, Solo, Solo-Ngawi, and Ngawi-Mojokerto Toll Roads. The Government also took over the project of Batang Toll Road from private sector,” President Jokowi explained.

The Government provides opportunity to the private sector to finish the construction; yet, if they do not begin the construction immediately, the Government will take over the project because the Government and people need the road.

“It is because of traffic. People who experienced traffic congestion in Bogor-Sukabumi know the needs to construct toll roads,” the President firmly said.

Also on that occasion, President Jokowi asserted that there are no problems in land acquisition process.

“I have already asked the Governors, Regents, and Mayors and they answered that there are no problems. I also have delivered to the public on the ground that currently we have not found any problem, and hopefully there will be no problem,” the President added.

The President feel relieved since the construction of Bocimi Toll Road has begun.

“The most important thing is that the construction has begun, while problems and issues that might arise later will be solved on the ground. I have also been informed that there is no problem in the construction yet,” the President stated.

Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, and Presidential Spokesperson Johan Budi SP also attended the event. (JAY/UN/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)