REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANADO - Construction of Manado-Bitung toll road in North Sulawesi is estimated to absorb up to 4 trillion IDR of state budget and regional budget.
Governor of North Sulawesi, Sinyo H Sarundajang said that the toll road development would be divided into two sections. First section includes Manado-Airmadidi track of 12.5 kilometers. "Second section is Bitung-Armadidi for 25.5 kilometers which will be handled by toll road authority," he said on Sunday.
Tender process will be conducted in October for the first section and ground breaking plan will be implemented in Januari 2014. Manado-Bitung toll road becomes supporting infrastructure for special economic zones after government declared Bitung port once an international hub port.
Government is determined to turn North Sulawesi into a gate to Asia Pasific region. This toll project has been included in the list of The Masterplan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia's Economic Development (MP3EI), along with Sumatra, Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, and Molucca Islands.