Indonesia Infrastructure Update: Bali Toll Road Officially Opened
About one week ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Week in Bali, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated the 12.7-kilometer long toll road in Bali on Monday (23/09). The toll road, which runs almost entirely on viaducts above the sea, consists of a north-south route from the city of Denpasar to Nusa Dua, as well as a branch to the Denpasar airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport) and a connection to the port of Benoa. Operator of the Bali toll road is Jasamarga Bali Toll, a consortium of state-controlled companies.
Shareholder Composition of Jasamarga Bali Toll:
| Company | Share |
| Jasa Marga |
55.00% |
| Pelindo III | 17.98% |
| Provincial Bali Government | 8.01% |
| Badung Regency Government | 8.01% |
| Angkasa Pura I | 8.00% |
| Pengembangan Pariwisata Bali | 1.00% |
| Adhi Karya | 1.00% |
| Wijaya Karya | 1.00% |
The toll road, part of the Indonesian government's ambitious MP3EI program, cost about IDR 2.4 trillion (USD $210 million) and is expected to relieve busy traffic around Bali's Ngurah Rai airport, the most popular access point of foreigners that visit Indonesia.
For the next week, access to the toll road is free of charge as it is considered a trial week. From 1 October, fees will be IDR 4,000 for motorcycles, IDR 15,000 for passenger cars and IDR 30,000 for heavy vehicles.
The establishment of the Bali toll road is another example of the government's efforts to revamp Indonesia's weak infrastructure. In mid-September, the newly renovated Ngurah Rai Airport was opened, which now can handle up to 25 million passengers per year. Click here to read a headline about the country's investments in airport construction.