Medan (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked the North Sumatra government to repair damaged roads in the province without delay in order to support the region’s economic growth.

The head of state, who was accompanied by Deputy Governor of North SumatrabMusa Rajekshah, inspected a damaged road in Sialang Taji village, South Waluh sub-district, North Labuhanbatu district, North Sumatra, on Wednesday.

"Which is (why) we check the condition (in person), and we will immediately repair them. But it needs time, because the amount of damaged (roads), as you all have known, is a lot," the President said during the activity.

The national road network in North Sumatra spans 2,600 kilometres of which 260 km of roads are damaged, he noted.

He also pointed out that of the 3,005 km of provincial roads, 340 km of roads are in a bad state.

"A lot of district's roads are damaged. Of 33 thousand kilometers in North Sumatra, there are some 13 thousand kilometers that were damaged. One of which we can see here, in North Labuhanbatu," the President highlighted.

During his visit, he said that the task of repairing damaged roads in North Sumatra will be shared. The central government will cover some of the repairs, and the regional government, including the district and municipal governments, will carry out some of the repairs, he expounded.

"(The responsibility) in North Sumatra will be shared equally. Some will be carried out by the governor, some will be carried out by the head of the district. The central government would take over some (projects) if the provinces or districts or cities cannot finish it," he added.

He said that he is committed to beginning the road repairs from July 2023.

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Translator: Anggi Luthfi P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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