The construction of the Pemalang-Batang and the Batang-Semarang toll roads should have started 20 years ago, the head of state said after inaugurating the groundbreaking ceremony of the projects in Central Java Friday.
However, because of land clearance problems, the project was neglected, and the stoppage of the project caused the government to spend more money.
"This is why the cost of construction for the project is so high. The price of land has increased many times over. It increased 10 to 20 times. The later the project the more the cost, because the price of land clearance continues to rise," he said.
The president decided to begin construction of a number of projects which had been neglected in an effort to avoid further increase in costs.
"God willing, we have begun it again in Section I whose land clearance has been settled at 12 percent, the other parts to the east 95 percent and 41 percent. This will go on and we will continue to push ahead so that we can save the funds and the project would be more cost-efficient," the president said.
These projects had previously been given to investors but they did not carry out the construction, he said. Therefore, the government, through Jasa Marga firm and Waskita Toll Road took over the projects.
"We had given the projects to investors but they did not complete it. So, the projects have been taken over by Jasa Marga and Waskita Toll Road. God willing, the toll road project will be finished by the end of 2018," Jokowi remarked.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
