Director General (Dirjen) of Bina Marga Sugiyartanto believes that the Trans Java Merak-Surabaya toll road will be fully connected by the end of this year. This is based on the construction of all remaining toll roads which will soon be completed.

"I am sure that everything will be finished, because the progress has all been above 95 percent, only the final settlement for the Pemalang-Batang, Batang-Semarang, Kartosuro-Salatiga, Wilangan-Kertosono toll roads," said Sugi after the inauguration of the Sragen-Ngawi toll road on Wednesday (28 / 11).

The operation of the Trans Java toll road is later expected to improve the economy of the region through which the toll road passes. For this reason, rest areas on the Trans Java toll roads are intended to support local economic activities through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

"This toll road will increasingly be able to spur and trigger the acceleration of local tourism potential, the local economy can be seen all, this must be able to be utilized all by the district / city government through," he explained.

According to Sugi, the Government is encouraging the growth of local economic potential through local MSMEs. For this reason, the use of most commercial areas in each rest area is devoted to MSMEs.

"For example we are currently in a type B rest area, of the 25 existing tenants, 70 percent or as many as 20 stalls are specifically for local MSMEs here," said Director General of Highways.

Utilization of part of the rest area for the commercial area actually includes other income for the Toll Road Business Entity (BUJT), the owner of the toll road concession concerned. But Sugi said, the contribution of renting the rest area to BUJT's profits was relatively small. To that end, the government directs BUJT so that its utilization is more socially oriented by supporting the potential of the local economy.

"The rental system is managed by a Business Entity. Local MSMEs who are interested in renting will be verified by the Regency / City Government where the rest area is located, "said the Director General of Highways.

Sragen-Ngawi Toll Road Inauguration

The President of the Republic of Indonesia inaugurates the Sragen-Ngawi toll road on Wednesday (11/28). Also assisting include SOE Minister Rini Soemarno, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Director General of Highways Sugiyartanto.

With the inauguration of the Sragen-Ngawi segment, the length of the Trans Java toll road from Merak-Surabaya which has operated to be 690 Km out of a total of 870 Km. While the four toll roads along the 180 Km that are still in the final completion stage are the Pemalang-Batang (33 Km), Batang-Semarang (75 Km), Salatiga-Solo (33 Km) toll roads, and Wilangan-Kertosono (39 Km).

"I am very happy that the Solo-Ngawi toll road in the Sragen-Ngawi segment has been inaugurated. It means that soon it will be from Jakarta-Surabaya at the end of 2018, God willing, it will be connected, "said the President. (KompuBM)