PU Minister Assures Gending-Kraksaan-Paiton Functional Toll is Ready to Support Smooth Homecoming During Christmas

PASURUAN - The Minister of Public Works directly checked the readiness of the Gending-Kraksaan-Paiton Toll Road, which is operated functionally to support traffic flow during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Dody said the toll road is an important alternative because most road users choose the toll road compared to the national road during the holiday season.

"If the functional toll section from Gending-Paiton, we have functionalized because the average vacationers pass through the toll road, not through the national road. Therefore, we ask BUJT to immediately process and ensure its readiness," said Dody to reporters at the Nataru PPK 3.5 Pasuruan Post, Sunday, December 21.

The Gending-Kraksaan-Paiton functional toll itself has a length of around 24 km and is expected to be extended to Besuki so that the total length is approximately 25 km.

Furthermore, Dody hopes that this section will not only support the Nataru flow, but can also be used functionally during the 2026 Lebaran homecoming flow.

Not only that, Minister Dody also visited the Nataru PPK 3.5 Pasuruan Post to see the readiness of supporting facilities for road users, especially aspects of comfort and cleanliness.

"It's good overall, it's just that the toilet at the post office please be repaired and cleaned because it's dirty. If it's not too crowded now because people are still passing through the toll road, not the national road, but later if Eid is prepared again because it will definitely be much more crowded," he said.

Minister Dody also touched on a number of vulnerable points in East Java Province which were the concern of the PU Ministry during the Nataru period.

One of them is the area around Mount Semeru which is still potentially erupting.

"Most importantly in the area around Semeru, because it is still erupting. For the bridge in the area around we still maintain so that there is no dust and can facilitate community connectivity," he said.

In addition to Semeru, there are also several landslide-prone points in East Java, especially around Malang and its surroundings.

The PU Ministry has mapped and marked the locations that are potentially prone to disasters so that handling can be carried out quickly if there are disruptions.

"If in East Java there are quite a lot, there are several landslide points such as Malang and its surroundings, and several points that we have marked are usually disasters there," added Minister Dody.

Furthermore, Dody hopes that the entire series of Nataru holidays can run safely, smoothly, and comfortably.

"Hopefully, people can enjoy this Christmas holiday safely and healthy, and return to their respective homes in good condition," concluded Dody.