Freeway: Touchless toll road pushed back again
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Bisnis Indonesia - Jalan bebas hambatan: Jalan tol nirsentuh mundur lagi
31 May 2023
By: Ni Luh Anggela
Jakarta - The government’s plan to implement the multi lane free flow (MLFF) system on 40 toll segments on Eid 2024 has the potential to be delayed.
PT Roatex Indonesia Toll System (RITS) President Director Musfihin Dahlan said that the trial of the MLFF system on the toll road in Bali that was planned to be carried out on 1 June 2023 was cancelled indefinitely.
According to him, RITS as the implementing business entity cannot implement the trial on 1 June 2023 due to internal reasons.
“With an apology to the public and the government, we, as the implementing business entity, cannot achieve the deadline that has been set on 1 June,” he said on Tuesday (30/5).
Musfihin explained that RITS has yet to receive the technology to implement the MLFF system from Multicontact ZRT, a Hungarian contractor appointed by Roatex ZRT.
The difference in perspectives between the management of Roatex Hungary and Roatex Indonesia is why the technology has yet to be handed over approaching the trial.
Musfihin explained that the difference in perspectives between both companies has occurred since August 2022.
At the time, the management of Roatex Hungary wanted to replicate the MLFF concept in Hungary in Indonesia. However, Musfihin stated that Roatex Indonesia wanted the technology to be implemented, but with adjustments to the condition in Indonesia.
In Hungary, he said that toll roads were managed by the government. With that model, the concessionaire is paid by the government, not by the toll road tariff. On the other hand, in Indonesia, private companies seek to make a return on investment from toll road tariff collection. “So, every rupiah that they receive will recover their capital. So, they are worried that the new system will make them lose money,” he said.
Unfortunately, he stated that RITS has yet to find a middle ground between the difference in perspectives. There is a possibility that the trial will be carried out when both companies have the same vision.
Musfihin also revealed that RITS has received the first warning from the Indonesian government as the MLFF trial has yet to be prepared in Bali on 1 June 2023.
“We have received a warning from the government, the first warning. Maybe there will be a second warning,” he said.
Musfihin revealed that the warning was directly provided by the government to Roatex Indonesia last week.
Roatex Indonesia has reported to the government that the MLFF trial preparation will be delayed.
Until yesterday, the key performance indicator or the KPI of the MLFF system has yet to be met by 100%, so a trial run cannot be conducted soon.
“So, until today, only 80% can be delivered to us. So, there is a potential of a loss of 20% from the revenue of the BUJT (toll road business entity). This is why we cannot implement the MLFF technology on 1 June,” he said.
Regulation revision
Meanwhile, the Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry is targeting to revise the government regulation on toll roads soon.
Freeways Director of the Highways Directorate General of the PUPR Ministry Triono said that the government was currently organising the implementation of the MLFF system.
Triono said that one of the points set was the guarantee that the BUJT would receive 100% from the new payment method.
“Inshallah (God willing) [in June]. Discussions among ministries have been held. A discussion with the Law and Human Rights Ministry is planned to be held at the end of May, so the target is still to be completed in June,” he said to Bisnis.
Trino also said that the MLFF concept is still in the preparation and the finalisation stages. The MLFF implementation trial is planned to be carried out soon in Bali in June 2023.
The trial progress on Bali Mandara toll road is still in the technical preparation stage, which includes the implementation of the gate system, cameras, other equipment, and legal regulations.
“We cannot do it alone as there are penalties. So, we are cooperating with Korlantas (National Police Traffic Corps),” he explained.
If the trial goes well, the PUPR Ministry will implement the MLFF system on 40 toll segments.
Trisono said that the PUPR Ministry is targeting the MLFF transaction system to be implemented during Eid in 2024 to minimise traffic jams at toll gates.
“After we hold the trial and if the result is satisfactory, we hope to implement it gradually,” he said.
