Had A Viral Damaged Road In Sragen, Today Jokowi Checks Surakarta-Gemolong-Purwodadi Section Repairs In Central Java

President Joko Widodo inspected the Surakarta-Gemolong-Purwodadi road on the sidelines of his visit to Central Java Province on Tuesday (23/1/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) accompanied by Mrs. Iriana Joko Widodo inspected the Surakarta-Gemolong (Sragen)-Purwodadi Road in Ngandul Village, Sragen Regency, when starting the second day of visits in Central Java Province on Tuesday, January 23.

The road section is part of the handling of regional roads in accordance with the Presidential Instruction (Inpres) of Regional Roads in 2023.

"I want to see the completion of all roads that we are working on with the Regional Road Inpres (IJD), which in total throughout Indonesia is IDR 14.6 trillion in 2023," Jokowi said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 23.

The President explained that Rp1.3 trillion of the total budget was used to repair around 40 roads in Central Java. Sragen Regency itself was given a budget of Rp204 billion to build three roads.

The President also mentioned that the Surakarta-Purwodadi road section is the road that has the most severe level of damage, caused by dynamic soil properties that often cause damage.

"So that we build this at a much larger cost Solo-Purwodadi roads using concrete rigids, the cost is big and we hope this will last longer than us with asphalt again," said President Jokowi.

He also revealed that the government had budgeted IDR 15 trillion for the 2024 Regional Road Inpres. However, the realization of the policy is still in the planning process.

"In 2024, there will be another regional road inpres of IDR 15 trillion for Sragen, how much is still in planning, for Central Java, everything is still going through the planning process," said the President.

Meanwhile, Eko, one of the residents, admitted that he felt very good about the construction of the road. Even the road, which used to be viral, was referred to as the "Single Group", is now good.

"Wow, it's really bad, in the past it went viral, it was a thousand groups, a thousand tours, but after the road was updated it was good, everything was cast, it was smooth," said Eko.

Eko also expressed his appreciation for the construction of the road. Eko also hopes that similar roads in all corners of the country will be built.

"Thank you to the government for building this Solo-Purwodadi Highway. So we want access to Purwodadi, to Solo so it runs smoothly and saves time," said Eko.

Also accompanying the President and Mrs. Iriana in this review were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Acting Governor of Central Java Nana Sudjana, and Regent of Sragen Kusdinar Untung Yuni Sukowati.