A storm of problems, such as land acquisition and legal certainty, hinders Trans-Sumatra toll road construction, especially the Padang-Pekanbaru segment. However, the central and regional authorities persist that the project must continue. 

Toll road construction is the main event of Joko Widodo-Ma’ruf Amin Administration. Every institution, both central or regional, cooperate so that the toll road project will run smoothly.

All problems must be resolved without conflict or burden for the public. If possible, the public must be offered suitable prices for the lands acquired for the toll road project. Jokowi said that this was not compensation, but it was a benefit (ganti untung).

However, not all toll roads are without problems. Padang-Sicincin section of Padang-Pekanbaru toll road has a basic problem but it is hard to solve. Moreover, the only national strategic project in West Sumatra is crucial for constructions in Padang.

Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry affirmed several times that the government was fully supporting the toll road project that spanned 255 kilometres. This means that, despite problems hindering the project, the government will not turn away.

During the inauguration of Kunciran-Serpong toll road in Tangerang on Friday (6/12), PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimujono said that his agency had replied the letter from West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno regarding Padang-Sicincin toll section relocation. He added that his agency supported the decision of the regional government in choosing the suitable location for the toll road construction.

“I have replied [the letter on Padang-Sicincin toll route relocation from West Sumatra Governor]. So, if he has determined [the location], I am behind him,” he said after the inauguration of Kunciran-Serpong toll segment in Banten Regency on Friday (6/12).

Land acquisition process for Padang-Sicincin toll road construction is complicated. Bisnis visited Padang and Pariaman Regency last week to cover the story. Bisnis found that the construction that spans only 4.2 kilometres had not been carried out fully as there were still disputes with land owners.

Meanwhile, the location for the route that spans 26 kilometres (STA 4 + 200 to STA 30 + 400) has not been determined as it is still waiting for the revision on the land procurement plan document (DPPT). The document is a condition for the governor to determine the location.

Agrarian Affairs Head of the West Sumatra Spatial Planning and Residential Department Darmansyah said that Padang-Pekanbaru toll road project would continue as the project was a national strategic project.

“[This project] is the pride of West Sumatra as there is only one national strategic project here. We want this [project] to continue,” he said on Thursday.

Entering section 4

According to Darmansyah, Padang-Pekanbaru toll road construction is currently on section 4, and West Sumatra Provincial Government has carried out a dissemination on the toll road construction to the public. He added that the consultation to the public involved land owners.

The section that spans 43 kilometres connects Payakumbuh with Pangkalan in Lima Puluh Kota Regency. A land acquisition and resettlement action plan (LARAP) is being implemented on this section. The LARAP result will be a foundation for the DPPT arrangement.

Darmansyah said that there would be a tunnel on section 4 that spanned 10 km and went through Barisan Mountains. The tunnel construction will be funded by Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

On the other hand, Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) said that Padang-Pekanbaru toll road construction would commence on section 6 (Bangkinang-Pangalan). BPJT Head Danang Parikesit guarantees that the construction on section will be finished quickly as there are nearly no disputes with land owners.

“The progress of Pekanbaru-Bangkinang toll segment is quicker than [the toll segments] in Padang. Hutama Karya has carried out land acquisition and mobilised equipment,” Danang explained.

On the other hand, BPJT is studying the revision of the toll road concession agreement (PPJT) of Padang-Pekanbaru toll road that was signed in October 2017. The PPJT is revised because the investment value of Padang-Pekanbaru toll segment surpassed Rp80 trillion.

Danang continued that the amount might not attract banks to provide loans. Hence, construction will be divided into several sections. The six sections will not be carried out all at once, unlike the 2017 PPJT.

According to Danang, the new PPJT may follow the agreement of Palembang-Bengkulu corridor that divides the toll road constriction into 3 separate PPJTs.

The construction of this corridor has three different PPJTs, which are for Indralaya Intersection-Muara Enim, Muara Enim-Lubuklinggai, and Lubuklinggau-Bengkulu. “We will process the ones that is technically simpler first. Hence, banks will be able to fund it more comfortably,” he said.

Meanwhile, players have longed for Padang-Pekanbaru toll road. Indonesian Young Bus Employers (IPOMI) Chairman Kurnia Lesani Adnan said that Padang-Bukittinggi-Pekanbaru toll route would shorten the travel distance of private and public transportations.

“The ones that enjoy the benefits the most are bus companies [that travel from] Padang to Bukittinggi. The travel time may be 1 hour quicker,” Kurnia who is the President Director of PT San Putra Sejahtera, a bus company, said.

West Sumatra Council (DPRD) Deputy Speaker Arkadius Dt. Intan Bano explained that Padang-Sicincin toll road construction would affect the economic growth of West Sumatra residents. There will be growth in various sectors, namely tourism, culinary, agriculture, as well as transportation. It will also boost the growth of small industry centres.

The positive impact of toll roads in Sumatra can be seen in the southern part of Sumatra, where travel time from Bakauheni to Kayu Agung has been cut.

In the last 4 years, PT Hutama Karya (Persero) has finished two toll segments, namely Bakauheni-Terbanggi Besar (140.9 kilometres) and Terbanggi Besar-Pematang Panggang-Kayu Agung (189 kilometres).

Padang-Sicincin Toll Road Project Leader Ramos Pardede said that vibrant economy in Lampung and South Sumatra was expected to be replicated in West Sumatra when Padang-Pekanbaru toll road was finished.

“The increase in airfare affected [the economy] here [in West Sumatra], and there was also a domino effect but they [Lampung and South Sumatra] were not affected. Once there is a toll road, [the number of people crossing over] from Bakauheni increased,” he said.

Thus, it cannot be denied that Padang-Pekanbaru toll road project must continue to hold the national strategic project status. Moreover, the national strategic project status provides the ability for central and regional governments to exercise their own discretion in solving problems of the project