President Jokowi: Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road to be Completed by April

President Jokowi inspects Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road Section I, in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Friday (21/2). (Photo by: Rizky/PR).

Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road spanning 131 kilometers is expected to be completed by the end of April, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

By that target, the people can use the toll road which connects the city of Pekanbaru and Dumai in Riau Province for exodus during Eid al-Fitr holiday.

“The toll road will cut travel time from 4-5 hours to only 1.5 hours,” President Jokowi said when inspecting Pekanbaru-Minas segment of Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road Section I, in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Friday (21/2).

For the record, Pekanbaru-Dumai Toll Road Section I is under the trans-Sumatra project which has a total length of 2,900 kilometers. Approximately 460 kilometers of that toll road are now in operation, while 490 kilometers are being constructed, and the remaining 740 kilometers are under tender process.

“We expect all segments to be connected by 2024. Though the internal rate of return (IRR) is still at 8-9 percent, the project must be carried out. We cannot start it at any time soon if we’re waiting for the IRR to reach 12 percent,” he said.

By developing infrastructures, the President expressed hope that it will accelerate logistics transportation and mobility of people and goods that will increase national competitiveness.

“It all leads to an increase in our competitiveness that will be proven by Indonesia’s competitiveness index. In addition, Indonesia’s infrastructure stock will increase,” he added. (RSF/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by : Mia Medyana