Jakarta, Sept 28 (ANTARA) - The government is now planning to build two major projects which are expected to link economic activities between Java and Sumatra, involving a total budget of about US$59.1 billion.
The two megaprojects are the 27.4 km Sunda Strait Bridge (JSS) worth US$27.8 billion and the 2,000 km Trans Sumatra toll road valued at US$31.25 billion.
Expected to help improve the flow of goods and human transportation, as well as to help generate economic development on the two islands of Java and Sumatra, the two megaprojects are scheduled for completion by 2025.
So far, land transportation from Sumatra to Java and vice versa has been achieved through the Trans-Sumatra highways and the ferry services between Bakauheni port in the eastern tip of Sumatra and Merak harbor in the western tip of Java.
However, the conditions of the Trans-Sumatra highways have deteriorated as many sections are often damaged and need to be repaired every year.
In the meantime, the ferry services by Inland Waterway Transportation Service (ASDP) often face problems while catering to commuters willing to cross the Sunda strait, particularly during holidays.
With deteriorating conditions on the Trans-Sumatra highways and the bottlenecks at the two Sunda Strait crossing points, the transportation system in the country's busiest lane becomes economically inefficient.
Thus, the government is pinning its hopes on the two megaprojects to solve the transportation problem. The construction of the bridge is expected to begin by 2015.
"The tender for the bridge will be floated in 2014 and its construction is expected to be completed in the next 10 years," a director at the public works ministry, Subagyo, said on Thursday.
The concession developers would share at least 50 percent of the total cost, according to Subagyo.
The total cost is estimated to be Rp250 trillion (about US$27.8 billion), including Rp100 trillion for the bridge and Rp150 trillion for area development.
The government is still in discussions over matters related to the funding of the Sunda Strait Bridge (JSS). Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto explained there were still two opinions regarding the funding of the JSS project, namely full funding by the state or by the private sector.
"After our latest discussion with the Team of Seven on the funding of the project, we are yet to make any decision on whether it would be funded by the state or by private players," the public works minister said.
The government has formed a team of seven in charge of working out a term of reference (ToR) for the project. The members of the team consist of Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Finance Minister Agus Martoardjojo, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin, Industry Minister MS Hidayat and Minister for Development Planning Armida Alisjahbana.
According to Minister Kirmanto, the team is still discussing the funding system of the bridge project. The problem has also been taken to a hearing with the House of Representatives but a final decision is still awaited.
But he assured that the construction of the bridge was feasible. The National Construction Service Development Institute (LPJKN) has assessed the project and is of the opinion that Indonesia has the ability to build the bridge.
"Indonesia already has enough experts to develop such a bridge. We already have soil, concrete and building experts," chairman of LPJKN Tri Widjajanto said.
If the government decides to fund the JSS project, it would not burden the state budget.
. "The project would not be a burden for the state now or in the future," Agus told lawmakers in a meeting recently. He said that the plan to build the bridge over the sea between Java and Sumatra is still being studied by the Team of Seven.
Earlier, Deputy Public Works Minister Hermanto Dardak said that construction of the project would be financed by consortiums without the participation of the government. Hermanto said that the proposal has been included in a draft cooperation agreement between the central government and the consortiums led by PT Bangungraha Sejahtera Mulia.
"The note is yet to be signed, but in principle both sides have expressed agreement," he noted.
He said that the consortium could reduce its financing burden by offering concessions for area development at both ends of the bridge- in Banten in Java and Lampung in Sumatra. The consortium of PT Bangungraha Sejahtera Mulia will cooperate with the Banten-Lampung consortium and Artha Graha, which is owned by local tycoon Tommy Winata.
Regarding the US$31.25 billion Trans Sumatra Toll Road project, Executive Director for Road Construction of the Ministry of Public Works Subagyo said on Thursday that the toll road will extend between the northern and southern tips of Sumatra, spanning about 2,000 km.
The toll road will not use existing roads and hence, will not need relocation of houses. "The cost will be cheaper as it would use land belonging to state plantations and unused land," Subagyo said.
"The plantation companies would be more than eager to offer a small part of their land for the project as it would greatly facilitate the transport of their commodities," he added.
In Java, implementation of toll roads is often delayed and costly because of difficulty in land clearing.
"We have submitted a proposal for the toll road construction program using mainly unoccupied lands. The long term program to be completed by 2025 will boost economic development in Sumatra," he said.
According to South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin, whose jurisdiction would apply over an area covered by the Trans-Sumatra toll roads, the construction of the project could be faster if it is built along the eastern coast of Sumatra.
The eastern coast of Sumatra has flat areas while the western part is hilly.
"Construction of a Trans-Sumatra toll road along its eastern coast could be faster in implementation," Alex said after attending an international infrastructure meeting recently.
"The projects could be completed in three to four years with full support from regional administrations, especially in land clearing," he added.
Alex noted that ten provincial governors in Sumatra have agreed to cooperate in building the Trans-Sumatra toll road that would reach a total length of about 2,000 kilometres.***2***
(T.A014/A/KR-BSR/F001) 28-09-2012 15:18: |
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