President Jokowi Hopes Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu Toll Road Can Be Finished by 2017

President Jokowi listens to the explanation on the Becakayu Toll Road.

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Tuesday (21/6) visited Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu (Becakayu) toll road construction site in Duren Sawit district, East Jakarta.

“We hope this toll road project will be finished by the end of 2017, Insya Allah,” the President told reporters after the visit.

President Jokowi added that the construction of the toll road began 20 years ago and even when he was still Jakarta Governor, he questioned the presence of pillars that have turned blackish and no construction activity was done.

“In November 2014, the construction began again and I am surprised because the progress is very fast and the construction was done day and night so it has come this far,” President Jokowi said.

The President also hopes that the 21-km toll road can become the solution to traffic congestion in the area.

Asked about land acquisition issues, the President said that there are no significant problems in the construction because on the left side and right side of the toll road is a river owned by Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing.

President Jokowi went on to say that the project is not affected by the budget efficiency measure being taken by the Central Government because the construction does not use funds from the State Budget.

“This project is done by state-owned enterprises and private companies so it does not use funds from the State Budget,” the President said, adding that private companies are still given opportunities to undertake other toll road construction projects.

“We provide ample opportunities to private companies to handle the projects first but if they don’t take them, we will let state-owned enterprises do the projects,” President Jokowi said, adding that if Return on investment (ROI) is too long and there is Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for state-owned enterprises who undertake the projects, funds from the State Budget will be used.

“It means that private companies will give the opportunity first. If they have difficulties, we will give the projects to state-owned enterprises. If state-owned enterprises have problems doing the projects, we will use the State Budget. So using the State Budget is the last option,” the President said.

However, the President noted that if private sectors are already given opportunities concession but they do not finish the projects in say 10, 15, or 20 years, the Government will take over the projects.

“The Government has taken over several toll road projects such as in Batang, Solo-Ngawi toll road, Ngawi-Kertosono toll road, Bocimi toll road, Kayuagung-Palembang toll road,” the President said.

Joining the President during the visit were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State-owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, and Presidential Spokesperson Johan Budi. (JAY/UN) (EP/YM/Naster)