Minister to Fast Track Transportation Infrastructure Bidding

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan wants 90 percent of all of the government's planned infrastructure projects to commence their respective bidding processes by March 31, 2016.

During a meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives' (DPR), Jonan also said that he aims to ensure that the contracts for at least 75 percent of those projects should be signed by that date.

"Hopefully, everything goes according to plan, and no significant problem emerges from here onwards," said Jonan, who also said that the Transport Ministry had already begun working on 99 projects whose contracts were signed on January 15, 2016.

The contracts' cumulative value is estimated to be around Rp9,8 trillion. Between now and January 31, 178 other projects worth some Rp4.4 trillion will be signed, continued Jonan. "In January alone, some Rp 14 trillion worth of contract is ready to be executed," he said.

According to Jonan, 22 projects are related to land infrastructure, with a combined value of Rp458 billion. Sea connectivity projects account for 72 projects, with a total value of Rp 780 billion, while projects relating to Indonesia's air infrastructure accounts for 34 projects, with an estimated worth of Rp 607 billion.

Rail transportation is also expected to be prioritized - with Rp2,13 trillion spent across 14 projects, finished Jonan.