Minister Of Transportation Optimistic That The Sea Toll Program Continues In The Prabowo-Gibran Government

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi said he was optimistic that the sea toll program would continue during the new government of the elected president and vice president Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

"I think because it is a community need, I think it is the government's obligation to implement it. And I am sure that the next government will be concerned about that," Budi Karya said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, August 2.

The sea toll program will not only run in the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), but will continue in the next government for the period 2024-2029.

In fact, he hopes that the sea toll program in the future can be improved because the distance between ships is still relatively high, so it is hoped that the ship's fleet can increase.

"Because if we talk about sea highways, the expectations to be increased, (because) the distance between one ship and another is very high. So, it will not decrease, maybe add. So the hope is that it can increase the frequency," he said.

Furthermore, Budi Karya said, currently the sea highway has 39 routes. However, Budi did not specify in detail the distribution of the sea highway.

"Now we have 39 routes (sea tolls), with a lot of points and it has increased from the beginning of Pak Jokowi (President of the Republic of Indonesia), until now the number of routes has increased and the number of points has increased," said Budi.

The Minister of Transportation also hopes that in the future there will be efficiency in sea toll transportation, both from logistics and people's transportation so that it can reduce costs.

"We still have two weeks, some are 10 days, we are trying to make it efficient so that the money does not increase much, but with efficiency in the number of goods carried and the efficiency of other things, making delivery rather than goods and passengers better," he said.

He added that the sea toll road budget in 2025 was included in the draft, but the nominal budget was not stated.

Including the investment value because it is the domain of the Ministry of SOEs and Commission VI of the DPR RI.

"The investment will come from PMN later, for Pelni because this is a domain corporation from BUMN and Commission VI, so from there the investment," added the Minister of Transportation.

He added that the Ministry of Transportation annually provides pioneer subsidies of IDR 4 trillion, and all of that for eastern Indonesia.

"As much as 90 percent of sea and pioneer toll roads are directed to eastern Indonesia, including Ambon," concluded Budi Karya.