The Ministry Of PUPR Allocates IDR 646 Billion For Road Infrastructure In Riau Islands

The Governor of Riau Islands, Ansar Ahmad. (Ogen)

TANJUNGPINANG - Governor of the Riau Islands (Kepri) Ansar Ahmad said the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) allocated an additional budget of Rp646 billion to handle 85.53 kilometers of roads in the area.

"We are very grateful, because the proposed handling of the Riau Islands Provincial Government's road resulted in a budget of Rp646 billion from the Ministry of PUPR," said Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad in Tanjungpinang as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, May 20.

According to Ansar, the budget certainty from the Ministry of PUPR was obtained after the results of a review of the Accountable Integration Transparency Synergy Application (Sitia) inputted by the Riau Islands Provincial Government based on President Joko Widodo's instructions.

He really appreciated the approval of the Ministry of PUPR for handling regional roads in Riau Islands. Equitable development in all regions really needs assistance from the central government.

He said the handling of roads in Riau Islands in 2023 includes road maintenance, road improvement, and construction of new roads targeting seven local districts/cities, including Batam, Tanjungpinang, Bintan, Lingga, Karimun, Anambas, and Natuna.

"The road infrastructure is the main requirement to accelerate economic growth in the region, because adequate roads can facilitate the circulation of goods, services, and money," he said.

Governor Ansar is committed to being even more active in seeking funds from the central government for development in Riau Islands. Collaboration between local governments and the central government is really needed in encouraging regional progress.

This year there are 17 packages of proposed road handling in Riau Islands approved by the Ministry of PUPR consisting of 11 proposed road handling proposals proposed by the Riau Islands Provincial Government, two proposed road handling proposals proposed through the aspirations of members of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Riau Islands constituency. Then, four proposed road handling for road repairs affected by landslides on Serasan Island, Natuna Regency, which is a direct direction from the Minister of PUPR, Basuki Hadimuljono.