We have just revised the law
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The revised Law Number 38/2004 concerning Roads—to be ratified by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Thursday—is aimed at improving road services, the Public Works and Public Housing Minister has said.

"We have just revised the law. Insya Allah (if God wills), it will be ratified at the Plenary Meeting of DPR RI this afternoon," Minister Basuki Hadimuljono informed at an online seminar here on Thursday.

He said he expected the revision to improve road services, operation, and management across Indonesia in future.

The operation of roads should also cater to the growing demands of the community. Hence, the government and the House have discussed the bill on the second amendment to the law, he explained.

The amendment seeks to improve existing legal products to answer present and future challenges, the minister said.

The bill covers issues surrounding road administration authority, road development budget, toll road management, land acquisition, as well as the role of civil servant investigators in examining allegations of irregularities in road development and management, he informed.

Earlier, member of the House' Commission V, Suryadi Jaya Purnama, had said that the revision of the law was important to reduce regional inequality and realize equitable development in Indonesia.

Provincial, city, and district governments often face difficulties in funding all infrastructure development in their regions, he noted. Hence, regional roads are usually of inferior quality compared to national roads, he elaborated.

With the amendment, roads could be built in villages, cities, districts, and provinces using the state budget (APBN) in future, he added.

This would help expedite equitable and fair development of regional infrastructure and economy, Purnama said.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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