Together With Luhut, President Jokowi Inaugurates The Balige Bypass Road In Toba Regency, Residents Are Free From Congestion

President Joko Widodo inaugurated the Balige Bypass Road in Toba Regency, North Sumatra (ANTARA/HO-Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

SUMUT - President Joko Widodo started a series of working visits in North Sumatra Province today by inaugurating the Balige Bypass Road in Toba Regency. The inauguration was carried out by signing the inscription by Jokowi.

Director General of Highways at the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Hedy Rahadian said the construction of the Balige Bypass Road has been in stages since 5 years ago and cost IDR 176 billion. The road was built to prevent traffic jams that occur in Balige City and its surroundings.

"So, this is a road to prevent congestion in Balige, so it is a bypass ring so that traffic that is go-through will not go to Balige, it can go through this ring road," Hedy said in a release received from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta, Antara. , Wednesday, February 2nd.

He hopes that the 9.8 km long road can also provide benefits to the community by increasing the smoothness of transportation and accessibility for the area around Balige City.

"This will improve, increase accessibility for areas around Balige. So, this will also form a space for the development of Balige City in the future," said Hedy.

These benefits are felt by the surrounding community as stated by Rohana Simanjuntak. This Balige Bypass Road user admitted that the existence of the road can shorten his travel time in carrying out daily activities.

"Before I had to go through the city, it took time because the density there also tends to be jammed, so because there is already a bypass road, this is very helpful, about 15 minutes of my time was greatly saved," said Rohana.

He also expressed his appreciation to President Jokowi for the existence of the Balige Bypass Road. It is also hoped that the bypass road can be well maintained so that it will benefit the community in the long term.

"Thank you, Mr. Jokowi, for the program, there is a bypass road here. Personally, it is very helpful for me, the people around here are also very helpful, there are many benefits," said Rohana.

Rohana hopes that in the future this road will be well maintained, not immediately damaged, so the benefits can be sustainable, the maintenance is sustainable, so the benefits can be maximized.

Also attending the inauguration were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno, Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, Governor of North Sumatra Edy Rahmayadi, and Regent of Toba Poltak Sitorus.