Supporting ASEAN Summit 2023 Connectivity, President Jokowi Inaugurates Labuan Bajo-Golo Mori Road In NTT

President Joko Widodo inaugurated Labuan Bajo-Golo Mori Road in West Manggarai Regency, NTT. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of PUPR)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the infrastructure for the Labuan Bajo to Golo Mori Road in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Tuesday, March 14.

Jokowi said the construction of the Labuan Bajo-Golo Mori access road aims to improve connectivity in the context of developing the Labuan Bajo Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP).

"So that the area between Labuan Bajo and Golo Mori will be able to develop properly and the development of Labuan Bajo will be increasingly supported by the road facilities that we are building," he said in a press statement, quoted on Tuesday, March 14.

The construction of the Labuan Bajo-Golo Mori Access Road also supports access to the Tana Mori Special Economic Zone (KEK), which is not far from Golo Mori Village.

The location will later be used for the leaders' retreat during the 2023 ASEAN Summit on May 9-11.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said, increasing accessibility and connectivity of road and bridge infrastructure networks to provide smooth, safe, secure, as well as comfortable for road users.

The Labuan Bajo-Golo Mori access will begin construction in April 2022 with a state budget of IDR 481 billion. The construction of the 25 km long road is divided into 5 segments, namely Labuan Bajo-Nalis Intersection with a length of 6.15 km, Nalis-Kenari Intersection with a length of 6.50 km, Kenari-Warloka Intersection with a length of 5.10 km, Warloka-Tanamori with a length of 4, 25 km, and 3 km road improvement to Golo Mori Village.

"In the past, the section leading to Golo Mori Village was a dirt and rocky road with a distance of 3 hours. Now, it only takes 30 minutes from Labuan Bajo City, with very beautiful views," said Basuki.

In addition to roads, the quality of 4 bridges has been improved, namely the 60-meter Nanganae Bridge, the 35-meter Wae Mburak Bridge, the 40-meter Wae Kenari Bridge, and the 40-meter Soknar Bridge.

The implementation of the construction is under the responsibility of the NTT National Road Implementation Agency (BPJN), the Directorate General of Highways of the PUPR Ministry with implementing contractor PT Wijaya Karya and construction management consultant PT Yodya Karya.

Meanwhile, Director General of Highways Hedy Rahadian said, the construction of the Labuan Bajo-Golo Mori Access also put forward the approach of quality and aesthetic principles.

"This tourist road is an arterial two-lane road. So, we hope that the public will take care of it and not create what we call side barriers, too many stalls on the side of the road, and even become slums. This is very important to maintain the selling power of tourism in Labuan Bajo," he said.