The NTT Provincial Government Is Opening Alternative Paths To Timor Island Via The Sea

The Provincial Government of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has opened an alternative route by operating the Sabu Island Passenger Motor Ship as transportation by sea to serve passengers and logistics in the Timor Island region after a landslide occurred in Takari, Kupang Regency.

"The NTT Transportation Service has coordinated with related parties such as the Land Transportation Management Center Region XIII to open alternative routes to serve passengers and logistics distribution," said Head of the NTT Transportation Service, Isyak Nuka, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, February 19.

He said opening alternative transportation routes through the sea using KMP Pulau Sabu was one of the options made by the NTT Provincial Government to ensure that the logistics distribution process, such as fuel oil (BBM) and basic necessities to areas in South Central Timor Regency, North Central Timor, Belu Regency, and Malacca Regency remained smooth.

He added that according to the results of coordination carried out by the NTT Provincial Transportation Service with related parties, such as the Land Transportation Management Center Region XIII, National Roads Hall and the Kupang Regency Transportation Service to jointly regulate traffic and emergency handling efforts so that traffic can function.

"Another alternative is to immediately alert sea transportation using ferries, namely the Sabu Island Ferry Motor Ship (KMP) to serve passengers heading for Kefa and Atambua and Malacca. KMP Pulau Sabu has been serving the Kupang - Wini - Teluk Gurita route," said Isyak Nuka.

Isyak Nuka said alternative options by sea with the consideration that passenger and logistics flows should not be hampered, because it will result in an increase in the price of goods.

According to him, the process of cleaning up landslide materials in Takari, Kupang Regency is still being carried out and it is estimated that the new land route will return to normal within the next one or two weeks.

He said users of services majoring in Kefa and Atambua, Malacca and Timor Leste could choose an alternative sea route, because currently the KMP operator of Sabu Island has provided ferry ships to serve the community and logistics going to Kefa or Atambua and Malacca.

The landslide that occurred in Takari, Takari District, Kupang Regency on Friday (17/2) caused access to transportation on the Trans Timor road to four districts on Timor Island and to Timor Leste countries to break completely due to landslide material closing the national road section on Timor Island.