Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel – PT Hutama Karya (Persero) (Hutama Karya) will raise or adjust the tariffs of the two toll roads Bakauheni – Terbanggi Besar (Bakter) and Medan – Binjai (Mebi) that it manages in the near future, after postponing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in fuel prices in October 2022 by up to 30 percent.
“With the current consideration that the economy has recovered, where inflation in April 2023 is lower than October last year, so this is the right time to adjust tariffs,” said Hutama Karya’s Director of Operations III, Koentjoro, in his statement in Jakarta, quoted on Sunday (7/5/2023).
Koentjoro has not disclosed the rate increase for the two Trans Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS) sections, but he ensures that this tariff adjustment is in accordance with Road Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning the Second Amendment to Law No. 38 of 2004 concerning Roads in Article 48 paragraph 3 which states that toll road tariff adjustments can be made every two years, based on the influence of the inflation rate and evaluation of the fulfillment of Minimum Service Standards (SPM) for Toll Roads.
Since its operation in October 2017, the Mebi Toll Road has never been adjusted, which should have been done in 2019 and 2021.
“For the Bacter Toll Road, according to regulations, it is time to adjust the tariff again after previously making adjustments in 2021,” said Operations Director III Hutama Karya.
As the Toll Road Business Entity (BUJT) of the two toll roads, Hutama Karya is certainly committed to tariff adjustments that will be carried out followed by the fulfillment and improvement of SPM by continuing to maintain and improve transaction and operational services.
According to Koentjoro, currently the Mebi Toll Road has been equipped with 26 transaction substations spread across four Toll Gates (GT), namely GT Binjai, GT Semayang, GT Helvetia and GT Marelan; 10 standby fleets consisting of ambulances, rescue cars, tow trucks, toll road services and Highway Patrol (PJR), 55 CCTVs with two-way camera eyes that are monitored for 24 hours in the control room, and five Variable Message Sign (VMS).
Meanwhile, the Bacter Toll Road has been equipped with 55 substations located at 11 GTs, namely South Bakauheni GT, North Bakauheni GT, Lematang GT, Kalianda GT, Natar GT, Itera Kotabaru GT, Sidomulyo GT, West Tegineneng GT, East Tegineneng GT, Gunung Sugih GT & Terbanggi Besar GT, 44 standby fleets, 289 CCTVs with two-way camera eyes monitored for 24 hours in the control room, 26 VMS and 12 Rest Areas with toilet facilities, mosques, gas stations, and minimarkets.
This State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) also conducts routine maintenance and beautification in the two toll roads, such as Scraping, Filling, & Overlay (SFO) maintenance or peeling and resurfacing and maintenance that is long-term sustainability such as permanent rigid concrete reconstruction in Bakter Toll Road.
“This tariff adjustment will also have an impact on the sustainability of toll roads, by increasing the level of investor trust in toll roads that are managed and creating a conducive toll road investment climate,” Koentjoro explained.
Previously, public policy observer, Agus Pambagio, said this tariff adjustment should be done considering that the Medan – Binjai Toll Road has never been adjusted since the beginning of its operation and this toll road service has met the SPM.
“By regulation, it is time to adjust the tariffs on the two toll roads. Especially for the Medan – Binjai Toll Road, it has previously been postponed for two to three times. Tariff adjustment is also a government agreement with investors to assess the economic value of the toll road,” said Agus Pambagio. (InfoPublik/Photo: Hutama Karya Public Relations)
