TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi urged the Bakauheni-Palembang toll road construction to complete in April 2019 which was faster than the target set by the contractor in June 2019.

“Please, speed it up to April; so there will be benefits,” the president said during the inauguration of the Kompas100 CEO Forum at the Jakarta Convention Center, Tuesday, November 27.

According to Jokowi, if it can be finished in April 2019, the toll road can be used for the road users during Eid's homecoming period next year. He claimed that the impact on his electability during the presidential election is not the main goal.

“The benefits for Eid homecoming. Do not think of other things. To be able to conduct homecoming from Jakarta to Palembang by car. The election is not the main goal,” he said.

In his speech, Jokowi said that a number of infrastructures built by the government is targeted to be finished by the end of this year and in the next year. He said that the Jakarta-Surabaya and Trans Sumatra-Bakauheni-Terbanggi Besar toll roads are ready for inauguration in December 2018, while the Merak-Banyuwangi Toll Road will be finished by the end of 2019.

Some other infrastructures are soon to be finished, said Jokowi, include Kuala Tanjung Port, Makassar New Port, and the third runway of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Jokowi explained that these constructions aim to improve the domestic tourism industry.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI