President Jokowi Inaugurates Sragen – Ngawi Toll Road

President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Deputy Governor of Central Java Taj Yasin innaugurates Sragen – Ngawi Toll Road, at Rest Area 538B, Sragen, Central Java, Wednesday (28/11). (Photo by: IST)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated the 51-kilometer Sragen-Ngawi Toll Road, part of Solo – Ngawi Toll Road, at Rest Area 538B, Sragen, Central Java, Wednesday (28/11).

President Jokowi  is glad to be able to inaugurate the Sragen-Ngawi Toll Road because it means that the toll road between Jakarta and Surabaya will be connected soon. “Insyaa Allah, God willing, it will be connected by the end of this year,” the President added.

The rest of the roads to be completed are that connecting Pemalang and Batang, Batang and Semarang, Salatiga and Solo, and Wilangan and Kertosono.

“I had confirmed the Minister of State-owned Enterprises and Director General and they said that the roads will be completed in mid- or the end of December 2018. They also allowed me to decide the inauguration date. Based on that statement, I conclude that the road is finished,” President Jokowi added.

With the completion of toll toads, the President hopes regional leaders whose regions are passed by the roads will integrate their regions with tourism sites so that the toll roads are used more optimally and attract more people.

“I am happy to see soto kuali, lontong opor, soto Madura, roti ganep, and other (Central Java traditional foods) here. I want this rest area to be filled with stores selling local products. Do not let foreign brands dominate our markets while local brands can only watch it,” the President firmly said.

For the record, Sragen-Ngawi section, part of Solo – Ngawi Toll Road, is part of the Trans Java toll road comprising of eight gates, namely: Colomadu, Bandara, Ngemplak, Purwodadi, Karanganyar, Sragen, East Sragen, and Ngawai (East Java).

Also joining President Jokowi in the occasion were Minister of State-owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, President Director of State-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga Desi Aryani and Deputy Governor of Central Java Taj Yasin. (*/ANT/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Mia Medyana Bonaedy