President Jokowi: Gov’t Has Built 782 km Toll Roads in 4 Years

President Jokowi, accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, visits editorial board of Jawa Pos in Surabaya, Saturday (2/2). Photo by: Fitri/PR.  

The Government has built approximately 782-kilometer toll road in four years, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“We have overcome key problems (in toll road construction) and I always monitor the progress (of every construction),” the President said when visiting Jawa Pos in Surabaya, Saturday (2/2).

The President also said that Indonesia built Jagorawi Toll Road in 1978. The Toll Road then became a benchmark for several neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. However, according to him, Indonesia can only build 780-kilometer toll road in the next 40 years.

President Jokowi said that the problem in toll road construction is land acquisition. Some of land lots are belong to Government agencies.

“We should have a complete understanding on the problems and we should solve them,” the President said.

“We have built 782-kilometer toll road in four years and will build other toll roads so at the end of 2019 there will be 1,854-kilometers toll road built,” President Jokowi said, adding that China has built 280,000-kilometer toll roads while Malaysia has built 1,824-kilometer toll roads.

The President further said that new toll roads will create new tourism spots, industrial zones, special economic zones, and new economic centers as well as will provide employment.

Accompanying President Jokowi during the visit were, among others, First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Governor of East Java Soekarwo. (GUN/FID/ES)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Yuyu Mulyani