Completely Connected, President Jokowi Inaugurates Balikpapan - Samarinda Toll Road Section 1 - 5
Bekasi - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) accompanied by Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono inaugurated the Balikpapan - Samarinda Toll Road Sections 1 & 5 which is the first toll road in Kalimantan at the Manggar Toll Gate marked by pressing the siren button and the signing of a symbolic inscription, on Wednesday (24/24). 8/21).
"Bismillahirrohmanirrohim, this afternoon I inaugurated the Balikpapan - Samarinda Toll Road Sections 1 & 5," said President Jokowi. Also present to accompany President Jokowi, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor, and Jasa Marga President Director Subekti Syukur.
President Jokowi said that the Balikpapan - Samarinda Toll Road which has 5 sections has been completed with a total length of 97.3 km.
"This is a historic moment, because the Balikpapan - Samarinda Toll Road is the first toll road on the island of Kalimantan. So that the toll road infrastructure is not only concentrated on the islands of Java and Sumatra but also evenly distributed in other islands, we should be grateful for this achievement," said the President.
President Jokowi said that with the connectivity of this toll road, it would create a new point of economic growth. In addition, the improvement of the logistics network has also become better, more efficient, and faster. "So the better the logistics network will also improve the main competitiveness, as well as commodities in the province of East Kalimantan," said the President.
President Jokowi added, with increasingly smooth access, logistics costs will be reduced. Then export products become highly competitive, and make economic growth in East Kalimantan more efficient and competitive.
The Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road has an important role in reducing travel time for a faster trip, which usually takes 3 to 4 hours, but currently it is only 1.5 to 2 hours.
For information, the Balikpapan - Samarinda Toll Road has 5 sections, for Sections 1 & 5 the Balikpapan -
Samboja has a length of 32.40 Km and is a newly inaugurated Government support.
Then Sections 2,3, and 4 of the Samboja - Samarinda segment along the 64.87 Km portion of the Toll Road Business Entity (BUJT) PT. Jasa Marga Balikpapan-Samarinda which has been operating since last December 2019.
Amir as one of the people who work as inter-city transportation drivers in East Kalimantan expressed his gratitude for being able to enjoy this toll road.
"I am very happy that the Balikpapan - Samarinda Toll Road has been inaugurated. With this toll road, my travel time can be shortened by 1.5 hours," he said. (BPJT/Dms)
