Padang Pariaman-Pekanbaru Toll Road Constructed Gradually, West Sumatra DPRD Insists Governor Mahyeldi Took Strategic Steps

WEST SUMATRA - West Sumatra DPRD chairman Supardi asked Governor Mahyeldi Ansharullah to be serious in acquiring land for the Padang Pariaman-Pekanbaru toll road, which is still at 77 percent.

"In accordance with institutional duties and authorities, the DPRD has repeatedly reminded the provincial government (Pemprov) to intervene directly with the community in accelerating land acquisition," he said in Padang as reported by Antara, Sunday, August 28.

The initial process for the construction of section one began in 2018 but the progress of land acquisition is still 77 percent. While the length of the segment to be worked on is 36.15 km and until now the physical road has only been completed at 10 percent.

"From the beginning, the construction period for this toll road has been very slow. While in other areas it has been completed, the governor must take strategic steps," he said.

According to him, the factor that caused the physical road to only reach 10 percent was because the land acquisition process for 77 percent had gone through a very long and convoluted process. In addition, the time period is very slow, this makes PT Hutama Karya also not have the ability to continue it.

He said the construction of the Padang Pariaman-Pekanbaru toll road was a national strategic program initiated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

According to the data received, there is no West Sumatran community that refuses to have their land acquired for smooth development.

"Perhaps there are elements who hinder the acquisition process and claim the land is theirs," he said.

In this case, he said, the provincial government as an extension of the central government has an obligation to secure the project.

"The governor should have intervened long ago, as the DPRD has repeatedly warned," he said.

He considered that one solution that could be taken regarding the problem of land acquisition is that the compensation money is deposited in the court so that when the problem is resolved the money can be disbursed.

"It's just that the governor didn't do that at all. It's very embarrassing, Riau has just finished building and we're just getting started. Meanwhile, day after day, the provincial government spends more time in meetings, rather than making decisions," he said.

The West Sumatra provincial government should be ashamed of the slow process of land acquisition in the construction of the Padang Pariaman - Pekanbaru toll road because for other provinces their toll construction has generally been completed, while for West Sumatra the land issue is still unfinished.

In addition, President Jokowi has just announced the regions with the highest inflation in Indonesia. In this case, West Sumatra's inflation was recorded at the second highest nationally, reaching 8.01 percent on an annual basis.

If the construction of toll roads still fails to continue while other provinces already have toll roads, he sees the threat of inflation in West Sumatra will be higher because the high cost of transportation will also lead to high costs and high basic needs.

"If this toll road is not built, West Sumatra will fall," he said.