REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DELI SERDANG -- Minister of Public Works, Djoko Kirmanto inagurated the ground breaking of Trans Sumatra Highway in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. The Medan-Kuala Namu-Tebing Tinggi toll road is part of Sumatran toll road along 61,80 KM.

Kirmanto explained that the toll road had an important role in serving people movement, logistic distribution and services from Kuala Namu Airport. It also encourages the economic growth in North Sumatra.

"This toll road is part of MP3EI (the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development) program. It can increase capacity of road in Sumatran economic corridor," Kirmanto said on Tuesday.

The Medan-Kuala Namu-Tebing Tinggi toll road is divided into two paths. The first path is started from Medan to Kuala Namu and Perbarakan with a length of 17.80 KM, while second path is started from Perbarakan to Tebing Tinggi along 44 KM.

The construction is taken by a consortium of state owned construction firms, namely PT Jasa Marga, Pembangunan Perumahan, Waskita Karya and  PT Hutama Karya. Until now, the land acquisition for the first path has reached 81.32 percent, while second path 81.40 percent. These all will be completed in 2015.

Construction progress in the first part has reached 13.5 percent and expected to be completed in 2016, while second path in 2017.