Jakarta-Surabaya Toll Road Plan Must Move Forward

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Dahlan Iskan said the government's plan to build toll roads, stretching from Jakarta to Surabaya in East Java, must move forward in spite of criticism from some quarters. "What happened to it? Why has it (construction) not started yet? All plans have been made carefully," the minister told reporters here on Friday. In reference to several analysts' terming the plan to construct toll roads along Java's coast an odd one, the minister said he respected everyone's opinions. "There is nothing in Indonesia that meets no opposition, let alone from observers. In principle, the toll road project must go on," he stated. Earlier, the minister had said the feasibility of the plans for the Jakarta-Surabaya toll road was yet to be studied. The cost of the project and technical details could be divulged to the public at the time as the project was still at the feasibility study stage, the minister had stated. "It is still in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which state companies are expected to work together in the construction of the toll roads from Jakarta to Surabaya," Dahlan had added. Dahlan had requested the 19 state-owned companies involved in the project to cooperate in the construction of the toll roads that will run along the coast from Jakarta to East Java. The 19 state-owned companies are PT Jasa Marga, PT Adhi Karya, PT Waskita Karya, PT Wijaya Karya, PT Hutama Karya, PT Pembangunan Perumahan (PP), PT Brantas Abipraya, PT Nindya Karya, PT Istaka Karya, PT Pelindo II, PT Pelindo III, PT Semen Indonesia, PT Krakatau Steel, PT Bank Mandiri, PT Bank BNI, PT Bank BRI, PT Bank BTN, PT Jamsostek, and PT Taspen. (*)