Heaptalk, Jakarta — The National Border Management Agency (BNPP) continues to strive to coordinate the development of road connectivity to accomplish economic transformation in the country’s border areas.
In the ten years of President Joko Widodo‘s leadership, road construction has reached 1,812.44 kilometers in three land border areas, namely with Malaysia, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea. Technically, the construction of this road was carried out by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).
“Under the leadership of President Joko Widodo, massive development continues to be carried out. We estimate that 1,812.44 kilometers of roads at the state border have been penetrated,” said BNPP Secretary Prof. Zudan Arif Fakrulloh during his first public lecture at Insan Cita Indonesia University (UICI), Jakarta (03/19).
Further, Zudan detailed that the total existing length of roads on the border of the West Kalimantan region was recorded as 1,386.46 km. The connectivity of roads that have been penetrated has reached 1,297.18 km, while those that have not been penetrated are 84.28 km. The approach in the 2020-2024 Master Plan for Border Area Management (PBWN-KP) covers 540.27 km in the form of development, preservation, and improvement.
“BNPP continues to coordinate with the PUPR Ministry in continuing (development), preserving, and improving roads,” explained Zudan.
Reaching 317.75 km in East Nusa Tenggara
At the border of the East Nusa Tenggara region, the construction of the bypass road has reached a total existing length, namely 317.75 km. The 2020-2024 PBWN-KP reduction work has been carried out for 133.76 km in the form of preservation and improvement.
For the Papua region, out of a total length of 416.39 in existing conditions, road connectivity has reached 197.51 km with 218.88 km of unconnected roads recorded. Zudan said, “The approach in the 2020-2024 Master Plan for PBWN-KP was recorded at 147.76 in the form of development, preservation, and improvement.”
Road connectivity aims to open up isolation and reduce price disparities in country border areas. The efforts to develop transportation infrastructure es expected to provide benefits for border communities. “This is the 10th year that road construction has been ongoing. This road infrastructure is essential as part of opening up accessibility,” explained Zudan.
Prof. Tito Karnavian as Head of BNPP appreciates the performance which is beneficial to the people in the border area. “For BNPP, this effort is part of providing greater benefits to the community,” concluded Tito.
