Logistics Association Criticizes Trans-Sumatra Toll Road Project
13 July 2014 16:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Logistics Association (ALI) said that the Trans-Sumatra toll road construction would not have significant impacts on the logistics distribution. ALI Chairman Zaldy Masita told Tempo this morning that the government must prioritize ports and railways connecting the west coast and east coast of Sumatra, instead of constructing the toll road connecting north and south of the land.
"The toll road is still not integrated, so it wouldn’t be effective," Zaldy said.
The government must prioritize the land transportation infrastructures from Teluk Bayur to Dumai since they are now unable to accommodate large trucks, he added. Thus, Semen Padang must distribute its products by circling Lampung or Aceh to get to Riau.
"The distribution is not cost-effective. They have to spend twice larger than they should," Zaldy complained.
When announcing the groundbreaking of Trans-Sumatra toll road yesterday, 2014, State-owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan claimed that Sumatra will have the opportunity to improve its economy. He referred to the United States that experienced economic boom following the implementation of integrated toll network.
However Zaldy said that the Trans-Sumatra toll road construction has violated the national development principles, which prioritize the maritime transportation.
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