Roads In Merauke Worth IDR 4.8 Trillion Ready To Be Built, Target Completed By The End Of 2027

JAKARTA - PT Hutama Karya (Persero) or HK obtained a work package for the Wanam Muting Segment II Food Production Center (KSPP) Road project in South Papua Province for 80.5 kilometers (km).

In the project, HK formed Operational Cooperation (KSO) with PT Nindya Karya, PT Batulicin Beton Asphalt and PT Modern Widya Tehnical. As the winner of the tender, they will work on a project worth IDR 4.8 trillion which includes roads and three bridges. The project is targeted to be completed by the end of 2027.

The signing of the project contract has been carried out by EVP of the General Civil Division of Hutama Karya Rizky Agung with KSO partners, and witnessed directly by the Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo, Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti, Director General of Highways of the Ministry of Public Works Roy Rizali Anwar and Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works Wida Nurfaida, at the PU Ministry office, Jakarta, Monday, November 3.

Director General of Highways of the Ministry of Public Works, Roy Rizali Anwar, said that the construction of the KSPP Wanam 'Muting Road is part of the sustainable program of the Directorate General of Highways to realize food, energy and national water independence.

"The success of this project depends on the synergy of all implementing parties who are expected to focus on the quality, safety of work and empowerment of local communities. Thus, bringing economic benefits and welfare to South Papua," said Roy in his official statement, Wednesday, November 5.

On a separate occasion, Executive Vice President (EVP) Corporate Secretary Hutama Karya Mardiansyah said, the construction of the KSPP Wanam Muting Road is an important foundation for regional development and the opening of local economic potential.

"We express our gratitude to the government, especially the Ministry of Public Works, for the trust given to Hutama Karya in carrying out this national strategic project," he said.

Mardiansyah explained that the project is located in an area with quite challenging nature characteristics, ranging from high rainfall, limited access to logistics, limited natural material sources to the dynamics of tides and rivers.

However, he said, Hutama Karya had prepared various strategic steps to anticipate these conditions, ranging from adjusting construction methods to strengthening cross-party coordination in the field.

"With the support of all stakeholders, the company is optimistic that this project can be completed on time and provides tangible benefits for the connectivity and development of the national food production area," he explained.

As part of this effort, the company is also preparing a comprehensive engineering engineering engineering plan to ensure construction implementation that has met the engineering rules of road and bridge structures as well as to answer technical challenges in the field.

Various geotechnical conditions, ranging from peatlands, soft clay to seasonal swamp areas, demand an adaptive and precision construction approach.

Later, the 80.5 kilometer long road will use asphalt and be supported by three steel bridges with a length of about 80 meters, 100 meters and 300 meters, respectively.

The infrastructure will be the main route connecting agricultural areas with distribution centers and ports, accelerating market access and reducing logistics costs.

The project is believed to have a strategic role in supporting the development of KSPP in South Papua. As part of the national food extensification program, road construction is also directed to open and optimize new lands in areas that have not been cultivated so far.

Including, secondary forests and sleeping land which are then managed into large-scale agricultural land and strengthen the production capacity of main plants, such as rice, corn and soybeans, as the foundation of Indonesia's food security.

"This area will later be supported by modern agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation networks and various supporting facilities, in order to increase efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector," he concluded.