Surabaya - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced the exemption of the Surabaya - Madura (Suramadu) Toll Road toll tariff, in the Central Span of the Suramadu Bridge, on Saturday (27 / 8.18). The tariff exemption is regulated in Presidential Regulation No. 98 of 2018 concerning changes in the operation of the Suramadu bridge from the toll bridge to the non-toll bridge.

"The Suramadu Toll Bridge is used as a non-toll bridge, is a proposal and insistence from religious leaders, clerics and also community leaders from the Madura Family Association (Ikama). By saying bismillahirrohmanirrohim, Suramadu Toll Bridge this afternoon, we turn it into a non-toll road , "said President Jokowi.

Also present at the event were First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, East Java Governor Soekarwo, and Managing Director of PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk Desi Arryani.

President Jokowi said the poverty level of Madurese people was still relatively high, around 16-23 percent. This is different from the surrounding areas such as in Surabaya, Gresik, and Sidoarjo, only around 4-7 percent.

With the free Suramadu Bridge, investment flow to Madura Island is expected to be higher as logistics costs decrease.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said tariff exemptions would accelerate the development of the Madura region which would be supported by the construction of a seaport in Madura and the Surabaya (Eastern Ring Road) toll road.

Also present was accompanied by Minister of Basuki, Director General of Highways Sugiyartanto, Head of BPJT Herry Trisaputra Zuna, Director of Freeway, Urban and Regional Road Facilities, Director General of Highways Hedy Rahadian, Head of BBPJN VIII, I Ketut Darmawahana, Head of Public Communications Bureau Endra. S. Atmawidjaja.

A Brief History of the Suramadu Toll Bridge

The initial idea of the construction of the Suramadu Bridge was conveyed by Prof. Dr. Ir. Sedyatmo in 1960. Preparations for development were carried out in 1990 with the formation of the Nusa Bakti Team and the Japanese Expert Team, but did not continue due to the 1997 economic crisis.

On 23 July 2003, the Meamati Soekarnoputri Bridge was re-inaugurated. On June 10, 2009, it was inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as well as being the longest bridge in Indonesia. The total cost to build a bridge with a total length of 5,438 meters, amounting to Rp 5 trillion.

The government then appointed PT. Jasa Marga as the Suramadu Toll operator that collects tolls and deposits them to the state treasury. The entry of tolls is used for the operation and maintenance of the Suramadu Bridge.

The Suramadu Bridge is also the first toll road in Indonesia that can be passed by 2-wheeled vehicles. The toll tariff at the beginning of its operation for class I vehicles is Rp. 30,000 and the motorcycle tariff is Rp. 3,000.

Based on the 2015 Minister of Public Works PUPR, motorcycle tariffs were later abolished. In 2016, based on PUPR Ministerial Decree, toll tariff adjustments were made in which the Suramadu Bridge toll tariff dropped, for example for class I vehicles from Rp 30,000 to Rp 15,000 and can now be passed without tariffs. (Dms)

 Public Communications Bureau