A toll road on Java island (Photo: Antara) Jakarta (VNA) – The urbanisation progress on Java, which is hometo 60 percent of the Indonesian population, will be accelerated as highwayswill mushroom on the world’s most populous island in the couple of years,according to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.
At a conference held in Jakarta on September 30,Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said the tolled highwaynetwork will be completed in the next five years, and construction is underwayfor new roads connecting Baten province in the northwest of Java island withProbolinggo city in East Java province.
Another tolled highway project has been planned in the south of Java island.Upon completion, it will link Gedebage district of West Java province’s Bandungcity with Cilacap district in Central Java province and Yogyakarta city.
Actually, the tolled roads have created a facelift for the local economy, withincreasing trade flow from Tulung Agung district and Malang city of East Javaprovince to Tanjung Perak in Surabaya city.
Experts have said that rapid urbanisation does not affect Indonesia’s economicgrowth much. The World Bank estimated one percent in urbanisation growth meansincome per capita would rise 6-10 percent.
Currently, 137 million Indonesian people are living in urban areas, or 54percent of the total population. The proportion of urban citizens will reach 68percent by 2025./.
VNA
