He stated that according to the target in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), the government is looking to increase the percentage of regional roads throughout Indonesia with adequate conditions to 65 percent, from the current 42 percent.
"Currently, from around 480 thousand kilometers of district and city roads throughout Indonesia, only 42 percent of them have adequate condition. In the RPJMN, we want to increase it to 65 percent," he noted at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday.
The minister remarked that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will issue a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) regarding the construction and repair of regional roads in all districts, cities, and provinces.
"It has been decided that the president would issue a Presidential Instruction for regional roads. The road sections would be decided together," he stated.
President Jokowi has also ordered the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to become the leading agency in the construction and maintenance of roads in regions.
In the early stage, the central government will help repair nine thousand kilometers (km) of regional roads, Monoarfa stated.
"We will start by assisting (for the repair of) around nine thousand kilometers of roads from the proposed 32 thousand kilometers. First, we will test the criteria and others," he stated.
On the same occasion, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono noted that the Presidential Instruction regarding the improvement of regional roads was one of the central government's intentions to advance connectivity.
"The regional roads have been neglected because the budget is very expensive. Districts and cities have limited budgets. Therefore, President Jokowi wants to help accelerate the repair of regional roads through this presidential instruction," the minister remarked.
Related news: Connecting Aceh, Lampung via toll road govt's dream: Minister
Related news: Ensure environmental sustainability in building public infrastructure
Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
