The question is:
- Who will use the TOLL ROAD?
- What will be transported through TOLL ROAD?
- Is TOLL ROAD able to improve people's welfare?
Users of ROAD TOL are those who have 4 or more wheel vehicles. The number of these vehicles is about 25 million units. The owner is less than 25 million people. The current population of Indonesia is about 262 million. In other words there are about 237 million people not the users of ROAD TOL
What is transported on STREET TOL? People and or goods. The person in question is a public transport passenger (outside the user / driver / car owner). There are also goods transported, among others, industrial products (eg agro industry, manufacturing, chemicals, furniture, household, etc.). What touches the common people directly is a small part of the agro industry. The amount is very small because in general these farmers are not big farmers. It means that those who enjoy toll roads are not FARMERS / FISHERS / WORKERS.
Then, is TOLD ROAD able to improve people's welfare? Theoretically it is said that ROAD TOL can reduce transportation cost & time. With this theoretical basis it is said that later society can get the goods faster and cheaper. IS IT TRUE? Not true. The prices of basic necessities have been standard or constant each and it is also calculated by the manufacturer. This means that ROAD TOL does not necessarily improve welfare.
Then what to do? I always convey that the government should also care to improve the efforts of production in the community.
For example, let's say TOL BANDA ACEH - SIGLI has been finished, what will be transported on that road? NOTHING.
The TOL ROAD is actually a BUSINESS of shareholders on the highway. Its business is a conglomerate. They sell TOLL ROAD service to people who have cars; not to the poor FARMERS / FARMERS / WORKERS.
Unfortunately, the negative impact is exposed to all communities and especially the poor. State debt is increasingly inflated and the sagging rupiah exchange rate has clearly resulted in low purchasing power in the community.