"This border road network is a strategic infrastructure for Indonesia in terms of the defense and security aspects as well as aims to support a new center of economic growth in the border region," Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono noted in a statement here on Wednesday.
The 966.59-km-long roads are projected to help boost connectivity between regions and open access to isolated areas.
The roads comprise 614.55 km of roads parallel to the borderline and 352 km of roads that offer access to border areas. Until the end of 2019, some 80.8 km of roads had yet to be developed.
For the 2020 fiscal year, the ministry has allotted Rp231 billion for the construction of eight border road sections and three border access road sections in North Kalimantan.
The ministry has completed the construction work of Malinau - Long Semamu - Long Bawan - Long Midang (Indonesia) - Lawas (Sarawak, Malaysia) roads spanning 8.5 km of the planned 198.71-km-long roads; Malinau - Mensalong - Tau Lumbis - Keningau (Sabah, Malaysia) roads stretching 221.73 km long; and Malinau - Langap - Long Kemuat - Long Nawang (Indonesia) - Sibu (Serawak, Malaysia) roads reaching 6.4 km long out of the planned 443.43-km-long roads, among others.
The roads are expected to help address the isolation of remote areas, lower regional disparities, enhance connectivity among Indonesian regions, and boost the smooth supply of logistics up to remote areas.
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Translator: Aji Cakti, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
