Hutama Karya Completes 9 Kilometers Of Pekanbaru - Bangkinang Toll Road

PT Hutama Karya (Persero) has completed the remaining 9 km of the Pekanbaru - Bangkinang Toll Road which is part of the construction of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS).

Executive Vice President (EVP) Corporate Secretary Hutama Karya Adjib Al Hakim said the construction of the Pekanbaru Bangkinang Toll Road which was worked on by Hutama Karya was successfully completed with a total length of 40 km. Previously, this toll road had been inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in 2023, and operated 31 km.

"After the inauguration, there was the remaining 9 km construction work in the 0+9 STA section at the Toll Gate (GT) Exit or Ramp On-Off. This toll road experienced construction challenges at locations that passed through forest areas, thus having an impact on land acquisition in forest areas. Currently, the remaining 9 km of the toll road has been completed and Provisional Hand Over (PHO) or the First Handover is carried out in early 2024," said Adjib Al Hakim in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, August 12.

This toll road will be operated and serves as a liaison for the Pekanbaru Ring Road project, which is part of the construction of the Phase II Trans Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS), with a target of the end of 2024.

According to Adjib Al Hakim, to accelerate the completion of its construction, Hutama Karya implemented digital construction such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) with the aim of achieving zero accidents and fatality. The work of this toll road is dominated by young Indonesian engineers, both from middle management to top management in the field.

"We make sure that the latest technology must go hand in hand with quality human resources to produce portfolios according to targets, quality and quality, with the aim of specifically connecting community connectivity in Pekanbaru," he said.

The toll road, which is located in Kampar Regency, Riau Province, received appreciation from the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, regarding very good construction. Adjib also mentioned that the history of land acquisition from the construction of this toll road is quite unique and will be the first in Indonesia.

"The 2021 Job Creation Law states that National Strategic Projects (PSN) above forest areas cannot apply for Borrowing Permits Using Forest Areas. On this basis, LHK also issued Ministerial Regulation No. 7 of 2021 which requires PSN Projects above forest areas to apply for Forest Area Release Permits, while projects only started that year. The implementation of the release permit was carried out during the pandemic so it took longer," said Adjib Al Hakim.

Furthermore, he said to answer the challenge, Hutama Karya adopted the application of Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) aspects, in this case good governance in land acquisition practices.

For land that passes through forest areas, Hutama Karya ensures that the land acquisition procedures have been standard with the aim of minimizing the environmental impact specifically.

Furthermore, in terms of construction, the integration of ESG values is also applied with green infrastructure principles that have been studied ranging from controlling air pollution and noise, managing soil and water quality, preserving biodiversity, to waste management.

The presence of the Pekanbaru Bangkinang toll road has a number of dual benefits for social or community, such as absorption of jobs during construction and operations, efficiency of travel time so that access to tourism areas and logistics flow becomes smoother, as well as increasing regional economic growth in the area.