President Jokowi Inspects Muara Port Construction Project
President Jokowi accompanied by Transportation Minister Budi K. Sumadi inspects construction of Muara Port at North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatera province, Monday (29/7) (Photo: JAY/PR)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday (29/7) inspected the construction of Muara Port in North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra province.
Muara Port is one of twelve ports to be built in the Danau Toba’s National Tourism Strategic Area. The construction is targeted to complete next year.
Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said that the President has ordered him to build ports with modern architectural design that can lure tourists to visit the region.
“Ministry of Transportation will collaborate with Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to design the ferry ports as instructed by President Jokowi,” Basuki said after accompanying President Jokowi at the construction site.
In the meantime, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono explained that of the 12 ferry ports in the National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN) of Lake Toba, four of them had been developed and will be completed in 2020, namely Simanindo Port, Ambarita Port, Muara Port, and Tigaras Port.
Meanwhile, three other ports will start construction later this year and will be completed in 2020, namely: Marbun Toruan Port, Tongging Port, and Balige Port.
Other four ports that will begin construction in 2020, namely: Silalahi Port, Sipinggan Port, Onan Runggu Port, and Porsea Port. However, there is one port that has been completed in 2019, namely: Ajibata Port.
The total investment for the construction and development of those ferry ports reaches Rp469 billion, funded by the State Budget.
In addition to ferry ports, Ministry of Transportation also provides support through several facilities. First, the construction of 5 vessels by 2020, with a total investment of Rp122 billion, namely Ihan Batak crossing vessel with capacity of 546 GT which was completed in 2018; two ferry vessels with capacity of 300GT and 200 GT which will be completed in 2019 and 2020, and two Water Buses which will be completed in 2020.
Second, subsidies for ferry transport and Port Master Plan (RIP) until 2020 with a total budget allocation of Rp4.7 billion on the following routes: Ambarita – Ajibata, Ajibata – Onan Runggu, Balige – Onan Runggu, Muara – Nainggolan , and Muara – Sipinggan.
Third, road equipment facilities with a total budget of Rp25.2 billion on several road segments, namely National Road on Toba Lake area (inner circle of Samosir Island), Kabanjehe-Sidikalang (km.121), Pematang Siantar-Balige (km 47-48), National Road in Simalungun Regency, and Dolok Merangir-Pematang Siantar-Parapat (064-065-066).
Fourth, subsidy for multimode transportation until 2020 with a total budget of Rp23.8 billion on several routes, namely Silangit-Ajibata route, Silangit-Tarutung route, Silangit-Dolok Sanggul route, Ajibata-Pematang Siantar (train station route), Nibung Bay-Ajibata route, Balige, Parapat, and North Tapanuli (Huta Ginjang) shuttle service buses.
The total investment support from Ministry of Transportation for the development of Lake Toba National Tourism Strategic Area until 2020 reaches Rp644.6 billion.
Meanwhile in the air transportation sector, the Ministry will extend the Sibisa Airport runway from 1200 meters to 1900 meters to accommodate the ATR-72 type aircrafts. The airport serves as the entrance point to the Lake Toba Region. (DNA/PR of Ministry of Transportation)
Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas
