REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The tender process for various development programs needs to be accelerated in a bid to overcome slow budget absorption in various regions, according to Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

"The absorption of the budget is slow this year as the development projects had only reached the tendering phase in May and June," the vice president stated in his directives at the building of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) here on Wednesday.

Therefore, Kalla has suggested speeding up development planning, so that the time involved in the tendering process for the projects can be reduced while their implementation can be accelerated.

Chief Economic Minister Sofjan Djalil earlier remarked that the government has expedited the tender process for the development of the Bitung-Manado and the Balikpapan-Samarinda toll road projects.

The government has also discussed efforts to provide funds for land clearance for the toll road projects.

"We hope we could call for a tender of the projects for the investors," he stated after a meeting on infrastructure development on Friday (July 3).

Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono stated last March that his ministry will focus on several projects, including the Balikpapan-Samarinda and Bitung-Manado toll road projects.

He remarked that the Balikpapan-Samarinda project will cost Rp11.4 trillion. The first phase will be financed by the State Budget while the remaining phase will be auctioned.

The investment needed for the construction of the Bitung-Manado toll road totaled Rp4.3 trillion.

The minister stated that the development of the toll road projects was given priority and was carried out in cooperation with the private sector.

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