Jalan Belt Merah Buka Akses Wilayah Terisolir Perbatasan

Motorcyclists pass through one of the sections of Jalan Belt Merah on the Indonesia-Timor Leste border, in South Lamakren District, Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Monday (5/6/2023). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Kornelis Kaha

The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) of the Ministry of PUPR opened access to isolated areas on the Indonesia-Timor Leste border, after the 179-kilometer-long Red Belt Road connecting Belu and Malacca Regencies was completed.

"The completed Red Belt Road access opens access to isolated areas and connects eight sub-districts and 32 villages directly adjacent to Timor Leste," said BPJN NTT Commitment Making Officer (PPK) Zaulkifli Arif, in Atambua, Belu Regency, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, June 5.

He explained, there are approximately six sub-districts, 27 villages in Belu Regency which are directly adjacent to Timor Leste in the Belu Regency jurisdiction.

In addition, there are also two sub-districts and five villages in the jurisdiction of Malacca Regency which borders Timor Leste.

The border Red Belt road in the eastern sector, which is built along 179 kilometers, stretches along the border line from north to south in two districts, Belu and Malacca.

The cost of building the 179-kilometer border Red Belt Road reached IDR 1.6 trillion, plus approximately 40 bridges.

ANTARA reporters who felt and saw firsthand the road that had been built hotmixes, passed through a number of green hills bordering Timor Leste.

However, there have been several lanes that have started to landslides due to bad weather, such as the rain that has occurred in recent years. According to Arif, there are approximately 20 landslide points that need improvement.

Yosep Pau Iki, one of the residents met in Maudemuk Village, South Lamakren District, said that he had been in the village for 70 years, and was grateful because he could finally feel the paved road.

"Thank you, because in this way we feel that we are independent," he said while hoping that there would be an electricity development in the village.