President Joko Widodo inaugurates the Solo-Yogyakarta-YIA Kulonprogo Toll Road Section I Kartasura-Klaten at the Banyudono Toll Gate, Boyolali Regency, Central Java Province, Thursday (09/19). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information (BPMI) of the Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated the Solo-Yogyakarta-YIA (Yogyakarta International Airport) Kulonprogo Toll Road Section I Kartasura-Klaten at the Banyudono Toll Gate, Boyolali Regency, Central Java Province, Thursday (09/19). This 22.3-kilometer toll road is expected to increase connectivity between Solo, Central Java, and Yogyakarta. The construction of this toll road itself has begun since 2021 with a cost of up to Rp5.6 trillion. In his remarks, President Jokowi expressed his gratitude for the completion of the toll road project.
“Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), today, this afternoon, the Solo-Yogyakarta-Kulonprogo Toll Road Section I Kartasura-Klaten with a length of 22.3 kilometers has been completed and is ready to operate,” said the President.
The President also highlighted the great benefits that this toll road will bring, especially in reducing travel time between Solo and Yogyakarta. He recalled the length of the trip when he was still a university student in Yogyakarta.
“When I was still a university student, as far as I can recall, traveling Yogya-Solo by a motorbike would take 50 minutes. Now, to travel the same distance by a car, how many hours can it take? Three hours, three and a half hours, even four hours, six hours,” he said, highlighting the traffic jams that often occur on the route.
With the operation of Section I Kartasura-Klaten, he estimates that the travel time from Solo to Yogyakarta can be significantly reduced.
“Later, to reach Yogya from Solo, it will only take about 30, 40, or 50 minutes,” he added.
The President expressed hope that this toll road can reduce congestion on national routes and at the same time become a driver of the regional economy, especially with the growth of new economic centers along the toll road.
“We hope it will be a lever for the economy in the regions, then a trigger for the growth of new economic centers around the toll road,” he concluded.
The inauguration ceremony ended with the President’s statement symbolically inaugurating the toll road.
“By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon I hereby inaugurate the Solo-Yogyakarta-Kulonprogo Toll Road Section I Kartasura-Klaten,” concluded the President.
Accompanying the President at this inauguration were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Chief of the Indonesian National Police General Listyo Sigit, Governor of the Yogyakarta Special Region Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Acting Governor of Central Java Nana Sudjana, Regent of Boyolali M. Said Hidayat, and President Director of PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk. (a state-owned construction company) Entus Asnawi Mukhson. (ECH/ABD) (TM/LW)
