VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said he was optimistic the 1,167 kilometer Trans Java toll road extending between Merak in the western end of Java and Banyuwangi in the eastern coast of Java would be fully completed by the end of 2019.

"The toll road will increase the mobility of people, facilitate distribution of goods and the logistic cost would be cheaper," Jokowi said after officially commissioning the Gempol-Pasuruan toll road project on Friday.

The 20.5 kilometer Gempol-Pasuruan toll road is part of the Trans Java toll road project in East Java.

The president said construction of toll road projects, which are crucial for goods and service distribution, has been completed one by one.

The government has given high priority to infrastructure development mainly in the transport sector in its economic development program.

Massive infrastructure projects including toll roads, railways , ports and airports have been built or under construction all over the country.

The president was accompanied by Public Work and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, East Java Governor Soekarwo, Head of the Toll Road Regulator (BPJT) Hery Trisaputra Zuna, and Chief Executive of state-owned toll road developer PT Jasa Marga Desi Arryani when commissioning the Gempol-Pasuruan section of the Trans Java toll road project.

The section was built by PT Transmarga Jatim Pasuruan (TJP) a subsidiary of PT Jasamarga Gempol Pasuruan (JGP).

It was built at a total cost of Rp4.03 trillion including Rp2.82 trillion in loan from a bank syndicate. (ANTARA)