Pembangunan Line Pansela Akan Tingkatkan Pariwisata Selatan Jawa

Illustration of the Pansela route (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said the construction of the South Coast (Pansela) road from Banten on the west to Banyuwangi sides on the East side will also increase the tourist attraction of the southern coast of Java Island.

"We continue to promote the Pansela Jawa route, so that people are interested in going South, because not only the road is good but also has beautiful views (panoramic road) and there are many tourist attractions," Basuki said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, June 2.

The Kretek 2 Bridge, which is located on the Pansela Line, has a length of up to 2.7 kilometers (km) and crosses the Opak River. Built from 2021 to early 2023, the Rp364 billion bridge has Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB) technology to reduce the impact of the earthquake.

President Jokowi, at the inauguration, said that the construction of the South Java Island road infrastructure would facilitate the distribution of logistics between regions, thereby increasing economic competitiveness.

"We hope that with the three routes in Java Island in the south, in the middle, then in the north of smooth logistics, the competitiveness of existing products will be better," he continued.

The President explained that in the last seven years, the government has continued to accelerate infrastructure development in Indonesia, starting from roads to other infrastructure. The acceleration is intended to help the community overcome various problems faced.

"Problems related to competitiveness, economic acceleration in the regions, and equitable development," said the President.

The construction of the Kretek 2 Bridge is part of the government's efforts to connect the west end to the east end of Java Island via the 1,320 km Southern Cross route.

According to the President, the construction of the southern cross section infrastructure in Banten, West Java, Central Java has been realized and 100 percent asphalt has been completed. However, there are several unresolved roads in DI Yogyakarta and East Java.

"In the province of Yogyakarta, less than a few, this year, God willing, it will be completed in less than 14 km and those in East Java are still less than 24 km, God willing, we will finish this year," said President Jokowi.

Also accompanying the President in the inauguration this time were Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, Governor of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, Regent of Bantul Abdul Halim Muslih, Director General of Highways Hedy Rahadian, and Head of Central Java National Road Implementation Center DIY Rien Marlia.