The highly anticipated Cisumdawu Toll Road is set to open on April 15, 2021, in Indonesia. The 62.77 km road connects the Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan (Cisumdawu) regions of West Java and is expected to greatly improve transportation and connectivity in the area. Sumadi, the President Director of PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk, the state-owned construction company responsible for the project, spoke to ANTARA News about the toll road’s opening and its potential impact on the surrounding communities.
The Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan (Cisumdawu) Toll Road, connecting Bandung to Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka, West Java, is set to be officially opened on April 15, 2023, according to Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi. However, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry ultimately decides the exact date of operation. Sumadi stated that it is highly probable that the toll road will indeed open in April 2023, but there may be a slight shift of one or two days from the expected date. The opening aims to support the upcoming 2023 Eid Al-Fitr exodus period, estimated to last from April 19 to 25.
Moreover, the transport ministry and President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) aim to develop Kertajati Airport as one of the alternative international airports in Indonesia, especially in the western region of Java Island. Husein Sastranegara International Airport in Bandung has a short runway, and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang is already quite busy. Kertajati Airport, on the other hand, has a roughly 3,000-meter runway and has already welcomed its first cargo plane — the Antonov An124-100 — on March 22, 2023.
Sumadi expects the airport to provide increased flight services for various overseas flights, including goods transport and Umrah pilgrims. He recently visited Saudi Arabia to discuss the possibility of using the airport to serve Umrah and Hajj pilgrims. The Cisumdawu Toll Road’s operation is intended to boost aviation activities at the airport while reducing traffic congestion in the region.
While Jasa Marga, a state-owned infrastructure company, is preparing for the 2023 Eid exodus period, Jokowi is seeking alternative funding sources to support the Trans-Sumatra highway project. Meanwhile, the government is working to manage the 2023 Eid homecoming effectively.
In conclusion, the Cisumdawu Toll Road’s opening on April 15, 2023, is highly anticipated, and its operation is expected to support better connectivity for West Java’s economy, reduce travel time, and boost aviation activities at Kertajati Airport.
