Minister Of PUPR Targets Border Road Development Of 3,770 KM Done 2024

The Ministry of PUPR continues to build border roads in Kalimantan and Papua. Photo: Doc. Ministry of PUPR

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) continues to build border roads in Kalimantan and Papua.

This development is carried out to increase connectivity between regions or open access to isolated areas, as well as to equalize development results outside Java.

"In 2023, the construction of border roads will continue to run with a target of 3,770 km until the end of 2024," said PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono in a written statement, Saturday, February 18.

Minister Basuki said that this border road network is a strategic value for the Republic of Indonesia with the function of defense and security as a state, as well as supporting new economic growth centers in border areas.

Furthermore, he said, his party also targets the construction of border roads to be 1.717 km of asphalt, 1,000 km of aggregate, and 434 km of land, so that it is likely that there are still 198 km of forest left.

Basuki said that paving work is prioritized in areas where there are settlements or densely populated, and there are public facilities such as Puskesmas, markets, schools, and government offices.

"Meanwhile, the use of the aggregate layer is used in areas that still need an increase in daily traffic (LHR)," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Highways of the Ministry of PUPR Hedy Rahadian said that the challenges in the construction of border roads are natural conditions that are still in the form of forests, mountains, and weather.

In addition, the availability of construction materials is also limited and access to work locations that are difficult to reach, making it difficult to bring in logistics and workers.

"For Papua, this year, God willing, the 50 km Jayapura-Wamena auction with the Availability Payment (AP) scheme," said Hedy Rahadian.

The presence of border roads and border access is expected to open up regional isolation that really helps people in border areas, where basic necessities will be obtained more easily and cheaply, so as to reduce gaps between regions.

"With the increasing connectivity of the community, new logistics lines will be formed that support the growth of embryos in growth centers," explained Hedy.

In 2023, the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Highways of the Ministry of PUPR targets road construction to improve connectivity and accessibility along 422.35 km, one of which is border road access to the Yetetkun State Border Post (PLBN) in Papua.

In addition, the Directorate General of Highways will also increase capacity and preservation for improving road structures along 3,538.36 km, such as the Mansalong - Tiga Apas Section in North Kalimantan.

As for the island of Kalimantan, the border road stretches from East Kalimantan with an length of 2,084 km, North Kalimantan with a length of 970 km, and West Kalimantan with a length of 813 km.

Meanwhile, in Papua, the government has programmed the construction of a 1.098 km border parallel road with Papua New Guinea, namely the Jayapura-Yeti section along 127 km, Yeti-Oxybil along 302 km, and Oksibil-Merauke 668 km.