Jakarta (ANTARA) - Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono targets completing the construction of infrastructure and supporting facilities of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo and Tana Mori, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), in early May.

"The target is to complete all works in early May 2023 before the ASEAN Summit takes place," Hadimuljono noted in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

The minister instructed that all construction works, both in Labuan Bajo and Tana Mori, be carried out by applying the best methods and ensuring top quality.

"I ask that the quality of the infrastructure be maintained and improved according to international event standards. Do not play games. The quality of the work must be the number one priority. Especially for road infrastructure, immediately improve the quality of asphalt," he emphasized.

Hadimuljono also stressed that all works were conducted neatly and cleanly, with focus on aesthetics and greenery in every area of the venue and the access road corridors for the ASEAN Summit. This aims to beautify the surroundings and ensure they are not arid.

"After the construction work is completed, it must be accompanied by cleaning of leftover materials and spraying with water, so that the construction area remains neat and clean. Each area, including road and pedestrian paths, must also be planted with various kinds of plants, such as flamboyant trees, NTT cherry blossoms, coconuts, and so on," he remarked.

The improvement in supporting facilities in Labuan Bajo-Tana Mori was conducted by the PUPR Ministry through the NTT Regional Settlement Infrastructure Center (BPPW) Directorate General of Cipta Karya and the NTT National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) Directorate General of Highways.

Improving facilities through the arrangement of areas and road corridors aims to support safety and comfort during the ASEAN Summit that will take place on May 9-11, 2023.

Currently, the percentage of progress in work to improve supporting facilities in the Labuan Bajo area is 73 percent. Meanwhile, the work being carried out at the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Tana Mori is currently 94-percent complete.

The scope of work being carried out in the Labuan Bajo Area includes the construction of the West Manggarai Police Command Headquarters and arrangement of the Labuan Bajo Marina Promenade Zone 4.

Other tasks being carried out encompass improving the landscape quality of the Labuan Bajo road corridor, arranging the VVIP parking lot at the West Manggarai District Head's office, arranging the roads and sidewalks of Sp Binongko-Sp Sylvia (Jl Waecicu), and arranging the median for Jalan Yohanes Sehadun (in front of Komodo Airport).

Meanwhile, work carried out at SEZ Tana Mori includes the construction of a roundabout beach club, dock shelter, installation of geomats on the Tana Mori Area road corridor, arrangement of the roundabout entrance to the ITDC Area, and strengthening of slopes and stabilization of plants on the Labuan Bajo-Tana Mori road section that has been inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on March 14, 2023.

The Ministry of PUPR is also building the Anak Munting Reservoir between Labuan Bajo to Tana Mori in Warloka Village, Komodo Sub-district.

The Anak Munting Reservoir has a capacity of 159 thousand cubic meters and an inundation area of 4.5 hectares, with the main function of conservation and supporting tourism in the Labuan Bajo Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) in relation with the ASEAN Summit.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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