Inp.polri.go.id - Ogan Ilir. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo officially inaugurated the 64.5-kilometer of the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road linking Indralaya and Prabumulih in Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra, on Thursday (26/10/23). President Jokowi said that this achievement was a pivotal part of the government's ambitious initiative to develop a 2,800-kilometer toll road network across Sumatra to enhance the efficiency of goods and services transportation. The travel time of 10-12 hour between Palembang and Lampung has been reduced to a mere 3.5 hours, owing to the inception of this toll road project in 2019. Despite the substantial investment of Rp 12.5 trillion, the President emphasized that the benefits for both the nation and its citizens, particularly if the toll road network is extended to agricultural, tourism, plantation, and industrial areas. Tjahjo Purnomo, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Hutama Karya, said that the Indralaya-Prabumulih Toll Road received its Operational Safety Certificate from the Directorate General of Highways at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in July. He explained that the construction of the Indralaya-Prabumulih Toll Road was the result of a collaborative effort between Hutama Karya and its subsidiaries, PT Hutama Karya Infrastruktur (HKI), and PT Hakaaston (HKA). The traffic volume on the toll road has exceeded Hutama Karya's predictions, with a total of 309,733 vehicles passing through from the start of operations on August 30 to Monday, October 23. "With the enthusiastic response from the public, it is anticipated that the toll road will be the preferred route, especially during major holidays such as Christmas, New Year in 2024, and the upcoming Eid seasons," Purnomo said. (ar/inp/pr/nm)