Minister Of Public Works Calls The Settlement Of This Year's Toll Road Projects Blocked By Budget Political Processes

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo. Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo said that currently his ministry is only working on toll road projects using foreign loan financing schemes.

He considered that this was due to the budget political process that was still ongoing today.

"Because of the infrastructure work, right, only the remains of the loan. Yes, the first Mrs. Minister of Finance (Sri Mulyani) love letter, right, said, the loan cannot be tampered with. Yes, we have done it based on that alone," said Dody to reporters when met at his office, Monday, February 10.

"But, right, today we haven't been able to do it because the second session's budget political process has not been completed. The second session is still facing the DPR to get approval. Only then will the Minister of Finance again to make our budget effective, you know," he continued.

According to Dody, currently his party has not been able to target the construction of a new toll road that is quite long. Given, there is a budget cut by the Ministry of Public Works of up to IDR 81.38 trillion.

However, Dody said, if later it is necessary to build new freeways this year, especially to boost economic growth, then his party will propose this to President Prabowo Subianto.

"But, later there will indeed be a big function for economic growth, community welfare. We (will) re-propose (proposal) to the President. The President needs to be done now. So calm, calm," he concluded.

Previously, the Prabowo Subianto Administration would only build a 13-kilometer toll road this year.

This is the impact of the budget of the Ministry of Public Works (PU) which was cut significantly to reach Rp81.38 trillion.

"The DIPA Ministry of Public Works ceiling, which was originally Rp110.95 trillion, has been utilized at Rp81.38 trillion, so that the remaining total ceiling after efficiency is Rp29.57 trillion," said PU Minister Dody Hanggodo in a Working Meeting with Commission V DPR RI at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, February 6.

Of the total indicative ceiling of the Ministry of Public Works worth Rp29.57 trillion, the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Highways only received a budget allocation of Rp12.48 trillion.

One of them will be used to build a 13-kilometer toll road.