Indonesia eager to build sea toll road to link islands

Indonesian President-elect Joko Widodo said on Tuesday that Indonesia is expected to see the operation of the so-called sea toll road within next four to five years, to link islands across the country.

"It would take some 60 trillion rupiah (about 5 billion U.S. dollars) to finance the sea toll road project. Seaports will be expanded, deepened and even build new ones," Joko said at a Jakarta seaport here.

The project has been highlighted by Joko Widodo during the campaign period prior to the election.

Joko said the sea toll road will be served by large vessels serving transport to islands from the western part of the archipelago country to the eastern part.

He added that the project would make people and goods transport more efficiently, reducing distribution cost. Enditem