HARIANEXPRESS – The Surabaya City Regional Representative Council (DPRD) has introduced a new option to relocate the proposed city center toll road to the eastern part of the city, addressing ongoing debates surrounding its construction.
Arif Fathoni, Vice Chairman of the Surabaya DPRD, stated that the proposal suggests rerouting the toll road’s path away from the city center and towards Surabaya’s eastern region. This move is intended as a middle ground, satisfying the central government’s need for a tolled infrastructure to alleviate traffic congestion towards Tanjung Perak Port while allowing the Surabaya city government to maintain the central area’s character.
Fathoni explained that the plan aims to accommodate the demand for a toll road to reduce the burden on the Sidoarjo-Perak-Gresik road network. Simultaneously, it seeks to protect the city center from the impact of large-scale infrastructure development, which has been a point of contention due to its potential effects on settlements, spatial planning, and the city’s identity.
The eastern area is seen as having greater potential for development as a new corridor. This aligns with the Surabaya city government’s existing plans for the non-tolled Eastern Ring Road (Jalan Luar Lingkar Timur – JLLT). The DPRD’s concept envisions the toll road and the JLLT operating concurrently, each serving distinct functions: the toll road for paid transit managed by the central government, and the JLLT as a free alternative planned by the city government.
