Jokowi opens long-awaited Becakayu toll road

JALAN TOL - JAKARTA. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Friday officiated at opening of the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu (Becakayu) toll road sections 1B-1C, whose construction was halted for 20 years.

"Now [finally], I can officiate at the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu or Becakayu toll road Subsection 1B and 1C," he said before pushing the bell to kick off the toll road operation at Jakasampurna, Bekasi, West Java.

The 1B and 1C Becakayu toll road connects Cipinang Melayu and Jakasampurna in Bekasi for 8.4 kilometers.

Toll Road Authority (BPJT) head Herry Trisaputra Zuna said the construction of the toll road began in 1996, but had been halted in 1997 due to the financial crisis.

The government resumed construction in Nov 2014. "The construction agreement was signed in 1996, but construction was halted for a long time," he said.

The total length of the toll road is 23.8 kilometers, divided into two sections. The remaining subsections -- the 1A, 2A and 2B -- would be operational next year.