Accelerate the Absorption of the Budget, the PU Ministry Starts to Build the Sumatra-Aceh Permanent Bridge

Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The permanent bridge on the strategic route of Sumatra-Aceh has begun to be built by the government after it was severely damaged after the Sumatra disaster at the end of November 2025.

According to the Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo, the construction of a permanent bridge on the strategic route of Sumatra-Aceh needs to be carried out without waiting for the rehabilitation and reconstruction stages to be completed. The reason, according to him, the emergency infrastructure that is usually built during the emergency response to disasters is only temporary and has limited capacity.

The decision was made after considering the importance of the connection line for national logistics distribution, including the transportation of fuel oil (BBM), cement and other basic needs.

"At the time of the emergency response that we built, it was an emergency, temporarily. Then, for example, the emergency bridge we built will not last long because the vehicles that pass through are large vehicles, even though we have limited it to a maximum of 20 tons. So, it's impossible (to be limited)," said Dody as quoted from a written statement, Monday, June 22.

"Not to mention this is a cross-Medan-Aceh route, there is fuel, logistics, cement and others. So then I dared, even though at that time it was not allowed. I should have entered the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, but immediately built the permanent bridge," he continued.

Dody assessed that physical work in the field had been carried out, so that the budget needs for the project could be absorbed quickly. Even so, payments to the project contractor must still follow the mechanism of the State Budget (APBN).

"So because in this PU there are many jobs that are permanent, so that the absorption of the budget can take place faster," he said.

In addition to the construction of permanent infrastructure, the PU Ministry also continues to carry out a massive work program in disaster-affected areas in Sumatra. Moreover, currently there are still several areas in the Aceh Tamiang area that are still filled with mud.

"For labor-intensive work in Sumatra, it is still ongoing, especially mud cleaning. So, it is in the Directorate General of Creative Industry. There is still a lot of mud, especially in the Aceh Tamiang area. We will clean all locations from mud," he said.

Until June 2026, the PU Ministry has completed the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 1,544 residential houses or about 83 percent of the total target of 1,866 units in 18 locations.

Meanwhile, the cleaning of public facilities, residential areas, and the relocation of health centers has now reached 100 percent. In the water resources sector, the government has handled two affected ponds, repaired 178 Drinking Water Supply Systems (SPAM), and built 70 shallow boreholes.

As for connectivity, the government has handled 107 national roads and 43 affected bridges. Meanwhile, in the sanitation and sanitation sector, the government has handled 15 Final Treatment Plants (TPA) and 12 Sewage Sludge Treatment Plants (IPLT).

The PU Ministry stated its commitment to accelerate the post-disaster recovery of Sumatra, which is also supported by a budget of IDR 100.1 trillion in 2026-2028. The budget has received approval from President Prabowo Subianto.