New Toll Road Segment in Papua to Ease Logistics Costs, Says Minister
He also urged all parties involved to exert their utmost efforts.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Mamberamo-Elelim segment of the Trans Papua Toll Road's Jayapura-Wamena section connecting Papua and Papua Pegunungan provinces is expected to improve the flow of logistics, according to Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.
As cited from his office's statement on Wednesday, he made the remark after the signing of the public-private partnership (PPP) agreement on the development of the 50.14-kilometer toll road segment in Jakarta.
"I believe that this PPP will help us build the road segment, which is hoped to reduce logistics costs and improve efficiency in Wamena, as well as elevate the living standards of people residing in the provinces of Papua and Papua Pegunungan," he highlighted.
Hadimuljono underlined that the Indonesian government had envisaged developing a toll road to link Papua's Jayapura with Wamena sub-district in Jayawijaya, Papua Pegunungan, since the administration of President Soeharto in the 1980s.
He expressed gratitude to the Finance Ministry, PT Penjaminan Infrastruktur Indonesia (PII), and PT Hutama Mambelim Trans Papua for their involvement in the 15-year PPP agreement.
He also urged all parties involved to exert their utmost efforts to implement the PPP agreement.
In addition to the construction of the Mamberamo-Elelim toll road segment, the agreement covers the development of bridges, the establishment of a vehicle weighing unit, the management of slopes and cliffs, as well as operation and maintenance services for 13 years.
The infrastructure development project absorbs Rp3.3 trillion (around US$201.8 million) in investment and is guaranteed by PII as a state-run infrastructure project guarantor.