The attempt aims to help the community to overcome various problems, including to increase (product) competitiveness, regional economic growth, as well as equitable development.
Bantul, Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the Kretek II Bridge connecting the villages of Tirtohargo and Parangtritis in Kretek Sub-district, Bantul District, Yogyakarta Province.

The president stated here on Friday that the bridge, which was built over Opak River, measures 556 meters in length, with four traffic lanes.

The facility was constructed by the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry with a budget of Rp364 billion (US$24.20 million), he stated.

"It is a part of the southern (Java) traffic route,” the president remarked.

He noted that the route stretches throughout Java Island, starting from Banten Province to Banyuwangi District in East Java Province, as shown in a video uploaded on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel.

The route is fully complete in the provinces of Banten, West Java, and Central Java, he noted.

“(However), a little part of it (the development of the road) in Yogyakarta has not been finished, and God willing, it will be completed (soon)," Jokowi stated.

He noted that construction of some 14 kilometers and 24 kilometers of the southern Java traffic route had not been completed in the provinces of Yogyakarta and East Java, respectively.

"God willing, we will finish it this year (in 2023). We hope that with the three existing routes in Java, namely the southern, central, and northern routes, logistics transport will run smoothly, and thus, the competitiveness of local products will increase," he remarked.

The president stated that in the past seven years, the government continues to expedite the development of infrastructure, including highways, bridges, dams, ports, and airports.

"The attempt aims to help the community to overcome various problems, including to increase (product) competitiveness, regional economic growth, as well as equitable development," he remarked.

Head of Bantul District Abdul Halim Muslih expected that the bridge could become an iconic facility and a new tourism destination in the region, thereby encouraging economic activities of the surrounding community.

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Translator: Hery Sidik, Uyu Liman
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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