Surabaya Pilkada Debate: Eri Cahyadi Asked City Center Toll Road, MA Touches Flood Even Though It Only Rains For Hours

SURABAYA - Surabaya mayor candidate number 2 Machfud Arifin also touched on flood affairs in the question and answer session of the regional election debate. Whereas candidate number 1 for mayor Eri Cahyadi asked about the construction of the downtown toll road.

"In the last 10 years the City Government has built 259 km of new roads to connect the western outer ring, the eastern outer ring has all functions. Connecting one of the western regions with east, north, south with the center into a single unit so that the economy moves. In Perpres 80/2019, it is stated that there is a mid-city toll road construction, what do you take as a mid-city toll road policy? " asked Eri Cahyadi during the Surabaya Pilkada debate broadcast on YouTube KPU Surabaya, Saturday, December 5.

Machfud Arifin (MA) said that there was no clause for the Surabaya city center toll road in Perpres 80. The MA, who was paired with a candidate for deputy mayor of Mujiaman, then talked about the need for mass transportation in Surabaya.

"In relation to Perpres 80, there you have to understand the acceleration of development, there is not a single clause stating the construction of a downtown toll road. Please study, we agree that the mass transportation of the Bangkalan-Kamal MRT is a demand for the acceleration of mass transportation development that Surabaya residents need, "said MA.

After that, the MA mentioned the flood in Surabaya. He insinuated the performance of the Surabaya City Government. For information, Eri Cahyadi, who ran in the Surabaya Pilkada, was once the Head of the Surabaya City Development Planning Agency (Bappeko).

"We have just watched (shown, red) the closure of many rivers with box culverts is not accompanied by the correct technology, so it only rains for only a few hours where it has been flooded. So mass transportation will soon be realized. Surabaya is not just for the people of Surabaya City but East Java and Indonesia, "said the MA as well as talking again about mass transportation.

Eri responded to the MA's answer. According to him, the construction of the downtown Juanda-Tanjung Perak Airport toll road has been mentioned in the Presidential Decree 80/2019.

"He passed Tanjung Perak-Wonokromo, it was in the middle of the city, but the MRT said earlier. That we must carry out this toll road construction. What should I do with this? need study, "said Eri to MA.

Machfud Arifin then admitted that he did not understand the concept of the mid-city toll road as outlined in the Presidential Decree 80/2019. Once again, the Supreme Court emphasized the need for mass transportation to handle congestion in the city of Surabaya.

"Regarding the middle toll road, we ourselves do not understand. Wait later after December 9, God willing, I will review and study for the middle toll road. What is important is the development of mass transportation, if the central government orders to build toll roads, it can be coordinated. We will support the central government's policies. We hope that congestion can be resolved, "Machfud Arifin said.