President Jokowi Targets Ciawi-Cigombong Toll Road to Operate July 2018

President Jokowi inspects Bocimi toll road project on Sunday (8/4). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media and Information)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expected Bogor-Ciawi-Sukabumi (Bocimi) toll road project, for Ciawi-Sukabumi Section 1, in particular Ciawi-Cigombong section spanning 15.35-kilometer to operate July this year. This was enunciated by the President at the inspection of Bocimi toll road project on Sunday (8/4).

“We expect July this year, the route from Ciawi to Cigombong can operate. Approximately, by 2019 the project will complete up to Cibadak section, and by 2020 the project of East Sukabumi section will finish,” President Jokowi said.

The Bocimi toll road inspection by the President was carried out on his way back to Bogor from Cibadak Station, Sukabumi Regency at 04:05 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, after a working visit to Sukabumi. The President inspected the project site located between Cicurug and Cigombong Stations.

The President said that the worst congestion happens around Cibadak area. Therefore, if the Bocimi toll completes, it will be able to significantly unravel the congestion.

“If Ciawi-Cigombong section is already open, it will unravel fairly heavy traffic jam. Because now the worst congested areas are in Cibadak, if the toll road is opened up to Cibadak, it will be able to significantly unravel the congestion,” the President said.

In the meantime, related to land acquisition issues, President Jokowi said that he did not receive a report on it. The construction of the Bocimi toll road as a whole, according to him, has gone well.

“The progress is good, no significant problems. Usually, in the process of land acquisition there are one or two problems, but this time there is no report from Ministry Public Works and Public Housing or from State-Owned Enterprises working on the project. Everything is good. Hopefully in July we can operate the Ciawi-Cigombong section,” said the President.

Also present during the inspection were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, and Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko.

After inspecting toll project, the Presidential Train continued the journey and when it stopped at Maseng Station, Bogor Regency, the President greeted the people there and distributed t-shirts as well as notebooks. The train arrived at Bogor Station at 05:45 p.m. (BPMI/EN) (GWH/MMB/Naster)