Palu-Parigi alternative route would reduce costs

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The development of the alternative Palu-Parigi route in Central Sulawesi had to be accelerated to help reduce costs and realize the economic development acceleration in corridor IV of the Expansion and Acceleration of Indonesian Economic Growth Master Plan (MP3I), an official has said.

MP3I’s corridor IV deals with the development of infrastructure in Sulawesi.

Speaking at a forum held in Makassar last week, expert staff Budi Santoso of the Coordinating Economic Ministry said that the opening of the Palu-Parigi shortcut would reduce costs to the country that were estimated at up to Rp 400 billion (US$42.40 million) annually.

“That is the lowest estimate [of the costs]. If the alternative route is not developed, the continuing costs could be higher,” said Budi, who is also secretary of the working team of the national logistics system development.

The figure, he said, was an accumulation of various aspects including fuel consumption, gas emissions, people’s access to means of a livelihood and the impact on the global hub.

The main alternative route needed to be developed is 35.7 kilometers. Together with the supporting route, they will have a total length of between 53 and 70 kilometers. The development of the route is expected to be completed by 2013.

Head of the National Road Implementation Center of region VI, Nurdin Samaila, who spoke on behalf of the Bina Marga Directorate General, said that the Palu-Parigi alternative route passed through Palu municipality and Parigi regency.

He called on both administrations to coordinate with the provincial administration to conduct a feasibility study, analyze the social and economic impact of the project as well as to prepare for a budget plan.

“We do hope both the provincial administration and the two region administrations will conduct a more detailed study,” he said.

The project is estimated to cost Rp 700 billion. The funding is expected to come from the state budget considering that the Palu-Parigi route is a national road project. Yet, contributions from regional administrations are also expected.

“Every year we have been improving the Palu-Parigi route. Yet, to make it an alternative route in corridor IV of MP3I, we need to develop a national road,” Nurdin said.

The route connects Makassar–Poso–Parigi–Palu. It will also open up access to the Soekarno- Hatta International Port in Makassar and the Bitung port in North Sulawesi.

Budi Santoso said that economic development acceleration and expansion outside Java Island was being made because Java had been considered to be over-burdened. Over 60 percent of economic development and improvement has happened in Java.

“If development is not spread to other regions, Java’s burden will be heavier and heavier. That is dangerous,” he said.