REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEMARANG -- Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan said preparation will begin for the implementation of sea toll road project in 2015.

For that purpose proposal would be submitted to build 24 new ports or expansion and modernization of old ports in various areas in Indonesia, Jonan said here on Thursday.

The idea of sea toll road project was first raised by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in his campaign before the presidential election.

The project is aimed at strengthening integration of the far flung archipelago and reducing the economic gap between the more developed west and backward east.

The implementation of the program would start with revitalization of cargo transport, Jonan said.

"We are the world's largest archipelago , therefore, sea transport capacity should be high and effectively utilized," he said after inspecting the new facilities of Tanjung Emas port in Semarang.

He said almost all passenger ships in Indonesia already have shipping schedules although there are still many delays.

"But it is not so with cargo transport in eastern regions. Cargo transport is already well scheduled in western Indonesia, but there is no shipping schedule for cargo transport in eastern part of the country.

"As a result the prices soar beyond reason there," he said.

The price of goods could be three time more expensive in Papua than in Jakarta because of scarcity of supply.

Next year a pioneer budget would be sought to encourage development of freight liner, a cargo transport with a more fixed schedule, the minister added.

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