Minister Of PUPR Affirms Bandung City Toll Project That Is 'Rescalated' For 17 Years Continued

The atmosphere after the meeting of the West Java Provincial Government led by the Acting Governor of West Java Beyvi Machmudin and the ranks of the PUPR Ministry led by Basuki Hadimuljono at the PUPR Jakarta Ministry office, Wednesday (28/2/2024). (ANTARA/HO West Java Provincial Government)

BANDUNG - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono emphasized that the construction of the Bandung City Inner Toll Road (Bandung Intra Urban Tol Road/BIUTR) will continue to overcome traffic jams. "To overcome congestion in the city of Bandung, we agreed to continue Bandung Intra Urban Toll Road," said Basuki Hadimuljono after a meeting with Acting Governor of West Java Bey Viki Machmudin at the PUPR Office in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, February 28. During the meeting, Basuki said that PUPR would start the process to help accelerate the construction of the toll road which had been stalled for almost 17 years with the Government and Business Entity Cooperation (PPP) scheme. "So we will auction it immediately, we will continue to overcome congestion in Bandung," he said. In addition to the Bandung Inner Toll Road, Basuki Hadimuljono also said that during the meeting, his party discussed PUPR's commitment to help accelerate the development of a number of infrastructures in West Java. At least, there are four other agreements between the Ministry of PUPR and the West Java Provincial Government, the first, regarding the improvement of the mining road in Parung Panjang, Bogor. However, this commitment, according to Basuki, must be accompanied by the West Java Provincial Government's efforts to continue the special mining road, and now his party is waiting for the scheme being prepared by the West Java Provincial Government regarding the construction of the special road. "We will carry out improvements to provincial roads. But there must be efforts from the West Java Provincial Government as well. We will help later," he said. Second, is related to the Cileunyi-Garut-Tasikmalaya (Cigatas) Toll Road, where PUPR targets the winner of the auction to be known in July 2024 so that the toll road construction process can be carried out immediately. Basuki also added that his party received a report that the qualification addendum and the addition of the longest toll road design would now be carried out. "After that, after Eid, mid-April will be auctioned. If the auction is two months, it means May-June, July there can be a winner. With the winner, we will immediately carry out the construction," he said. The third commitment, with the Regional Road Presidential Instruction, is that PUPR ensures that there will be an increase in the budget for the improvement of provincial roads, city districts in West Java. "(The budget) will be much bigger than in 2023. The proposal is IDR 1.2 trillion for the improvement of the presidential road in West Java," he said. Furthermore, in addition to regional road inpres, there is an inpres for drinking water and wastewater management which according to Basuki can be utilized by West Java Province. Currently, there are five regencies/cities in West Java that have not included the program, including Bogor City, Bekasi Regency, Bekasi City, Cirebon and Sukabumi. "Those five things are the focus, so that we can collaborate between the Central Government and West Java. This is a good opportunity with the Governor, Mr. Bey," he said. West Java Acting Governor Beyxi Machmudin said his party really appreciated and thanked Minister Basuki and the PUPR Ministry for accepting his party and discussing infrastructure in West Java. "The response is very good, and there are several plans made this year," he said.

Informed at this meeting, Bey was accompanied by Acting Secretary of West Java Taufiq Budi Santoso and Head of the West Java Highways and Spatial Planning Agency (BMPR) Bambang Tirtoyuliono. Meanwhile, Basuki Hadimuljono was accompanied by the Director General of Highways, the Director General of Human Settlements and the Head of BPJT.