Trans Sumatra Toll Construction To Continue Without State Budget's Funds

Jakarta, Sept 17 (Antara) - State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan has stated that the construction of Trans-Sumatra toll project will be carried out although PT Hutama Karya has not received funds from the State Budget (APBN). "Trans-Sumatra toll construction will continue. The publicly listed construction company Hutama Karya and other state enterprises are ready for synergy. This is part of the state enterprises` devotion to the nation," the minister said here on Wednesday. He explained that Hutama Karya, which has been tasked to build the toll road spanning 2,700 kilometers, most likely will not receive capital injection from the Draft 2015 State Budget (RAPBN), because a presidential regulation concerning the task of Hutama Karya has not been issued. However, it could be proposed again in the amended APBN-P 2015 during the new administration. Initially, Hutama Karya was expected to receive Rp2 trillion from the APBN 2014. The minister explained that the construction work will follow "build and sell" scheme, similar to that applied in China. "I believe PT Jasa Marga will become a standby buyer," he said. Trans-Sumatra toll will comprise four main corridors and three priority corridors of toll road network on Sumatra Island. The four main corridors comprise Lampung-Palembang (358 kilometers long), Palembang-Pekanbaru (610 kilometers), Pekanbaru-Medan (548 kilometers), and Medan-Banda Aceh (460 kilometers). About Rp298 trillion in funds is required to build the four corridors. The three priority corridors are Palembang-Bengkulu (303 kilometers), Pekanbaru-Padang (242 kilometers), and Medan-Sibolga (175 kilometers).