The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (often referred to as Jokowi), has pointed out that Indonesia’s global competitiveness remains significantly lacking, given that the extent of the national toll road network only stretches to 2,800km.

During his tenure, Jokowi noted that a grand total of 2,040km of toll roads have been constructed, representing a substantial increase from the previous 780km.

This signifies that Indonesia possesses just 2,800km of toll roads. In contrast, China boasts a staggering 280,000km.

According to the nation’s leader, the length of Indonesia’s toll road network underscores a considerable competitiveness gap when compared to China.

For Sumatra Island, the government had laid out plans for constructing the Trans Sumatra Motorway (JTTS), which encompasses 2,800km in total, with 1,800km designated as the island’s primary backbone, as highlighted by Jokowi.

Jokowi cited insights from community and religious leaders in South Sumatra, who pointed out that the journey from Palembang to Lampung previously consumed 10-12 hours.

Thanks to the Trans Sumatra Motorway, the travel duration between Palembang and Lampung is expected to be significantly reduced, estimated at approximately 3.5 hours, according to the president.

President Jokowi officially inaugurated the Indralaya-Prabumulih Motorway, which spans 64.5km. According to data from the official website of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), the Indralaya-Prabumulih Motorway commenced toll-collection-free operations on August 30, 2023.

Operated by PT Hutama Karya (Persero), this motorway can cut travel time between Palembang and Prabumulih by approximately one hour. The Indralaya-Prabumulih Motorway is a segment of the larger Indralaya-Muara Enim Motorway project, with a cumulative length of around 119km.