Padang-Pekanbaru Toll Land Acquisition Section I Targeted To Be Completed In July

West Sumatra Deputy Governor Audy Joinaldy with the Director General of Land Procurement and Land Development of the Ministry of ATR/BPN Embun Suri after a meeting on toll roads in Padang, Monday (6/6/2022). ANTARA/Miko Elfisha

PADANG - Land acquisition for the Padang-Pekanbaru Section I Toll Road project from Padang to Sicincin, Padang Pariaman, with a length of 36.6 kilometers is targeted to be completed in July 2022 so that physical construction can begin immediately.

"Everything is still in process. We have explained all the obstacles we have faced and we have a solution. We are targeting completion in July 2022," said Deputy Governor of West Sumatra Audy Joinaldy in Padang as reported by Antara, Monday, June 6.

This was conveyed after a meeting with the Director General of Land Procurement and Land Development of the Ministry of ATR/BPN Embun Suri, Inspector General of the Ministry of ATR/BPN Sunrizal, West Sumatra BPN, PT Hutama Karya, PPK, Padang Pariaman Regency Government and a number of related parties in Padang.

The Deputy Governor said there were several obstacles in the acquisition of the land. However, in the joint meeting that was held, everything was resolved and the best solution was found.

"In other areas, the obstacle is the community's rejection, in West Sumatra it is different. There is no community who refuses. The problem is more with the administration. However, there is already a solution," he said.

The current condition, of the 1,485 plots of land that must be acquired, as many as 920 parcels or 61.95 percent have been completed. The fields that have been completed include compensation money, consignments and some are public facilities.

Meanwhile, 38.05 percent are still in the process, including the completion of the administration of government assets in eight fields (0.5 percent) and waiting for the payment of compensation payments (UGK) for 34 fields (3.64 percent). For that part, it's just a matter of time because there are no more problems.

The rest, currently being validated in 14 areas (0.94 percent), have completed deliberation or document verification, have completed the assessment and will be discussed soon. Only a small percentage (1.35 percent) or 20 fields are in the process of being assessed.

Meanwhile, Embun Suri said that the problem of completing the toll land acquisition was a shortage of personnel. This is because, previously there were concerns about BPN staff working following the alleged corruption case that ensnared three BPN staff in the acquisition of toll road land in the Biodiversity Park section, Padang Pariaman.

"We have given understanding to all staff. If you work straight according to the rules, there is no need to be afraid. Then, the workload of the existing land acquisition committee members is already heavy. Work day and night," he said.

The solution, continued Embun, was to carry out BKO personnel from the Padang BPN office to assist in the management of land acquisition in Padang Pariaman. Then, the commitment-making officials (PPK) also brought in additions from Bengkulu. This is because the work of the PPK in West Sumatra is excessive.

One of the land acquisition team, Syafrizal said that the physical construction has now reached nine kilometers, but is divided into several points.

It is hoped that after the land acquisition process is complete, physical construction can begin as scheduled.