Trans-Sumatra Megaproject to Kick Off Next Week
2 October 2014 20:40 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for the Economy Chairul Tanjung said Thursday that he would launch the Trans-Sumatra highway project on Friday, October 10, 2014.
Based on the feasibility study conducted by the Public Works Ministry and the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry, the government finally decided that the highway projects connecting Medan-Binjai and Palembang-Indralaya are the most feasible to be started immediately.
“If possible, the groundbreaking will be started immediately,” Chairul said.
Chairul explained that the early construction of the highways would be financed by PT Hutama Karya as the project executor.
Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto added that Hutama Karya had full authority to decide which routes to be prioritized allowing for the land availability. Hutama Karya was appointed by the government not as a public contractor but rather a state-owned highway construction enterprise. The SOE must gain approval from banks to follow up the tender.
“So, perhaps [the execution] might take a long time,” Djoko said.
JAYADI SUPRIADI
