Regarding Many Damaged Roads In The Region, Transportation Observers Say This

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Regional Empowerment and Strengthening Division of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Center Djoko Setijowarno assessed that the gap in road infrastructure development is still being felt by many people, to date.

Moreover, many road infrastructure has not been touched and is inversely proportional to the development carried out by the central government. A number of damaged roads in the regions seem difficult to reach the development budget from the center.

In fact, Djoko assessed, equitable infrastructure development can be a driving force for a country's economy.

"However, the fact is that in this republic the infrastructure gap is still far away. In the midst of the incessant construction of the Trans Java, Trans Sumatra, and others toll roads, there is inequality between village roads, district roads, provincial roads to national roads that are far from feasible," said Djoko in a written statement received by VOI, Monday, May 22.

Some of these roads are damaged or not paved, so it is difficult for vehicles to pass. As a result, the wheels of the economy that must be able to touch the hamlets can clearly be hampered.

"There is already a division of the authority to build roads. The responsibility of the national road is in the central government, the provincial road is the governor's responsibility, the district/city road is the responsibility of the regent/mayor," he said.

According to Djoko, poor governance also worsens road conditions in the regions.

Often, the budget for road infrastructure development is actually corrupted by regional heads. In fact, the largest budget in the APBD is to build road infrastructure.

"Logistical costs also depend on the condition of available road network infrastructure. In addition to eliminating extortion along the road, it must also eliminate the interference of law enforcement officers in balancing vehicles on weight bridges," said Djoko.

He said that the road that actually became access to activities was actually worrying for use.

Worse road conditions not only hinder travel, but also often cause accidents that claimed lives.

"Marisnya, meskipun masyarakat sudah menyampaikan aspirasi ke pemda, namun hasilnya tidak sesuai keharapan masyarakat. Kadang, truk-truk besar yang melewat dengan pengodung puluhan ton (lebih tindakan) turut memperburuk kondisi jalan," ungkapnya.