Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry is targeting to complete Phase I implementation of Presidential Instruction No.3 of 2023 concerning the acceleration of increasing regional road connectivity by the end of 2023.

PUPR Minister's expert staff for technology, industry, and the environment and ministry spokesperson, Endra Atmawidjaja, informed on Friday that the presidential instruction covers 599 work packages across Indonesia.

"Overall, the plan for handling the presidential instruction on regional roads (IJD) covers 2,873 kilometers of roads and 2,362 meters of bridges," he informed in a statement.

He said that in North Sumatra province, the implementation of the first stage of IJD has been divided into two stages, namely 1A and 1B. In stage 1A, there are 24 IJD packages with a contract value of Rp778 billion, including the Gunting Saga-Teluk Binjei road in North Labuhan district.

The section was reviewed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono in May 2023.

"The physical progress of package 1A in North Sumatra is currently 17 percent. Meanwhile, for phase 1B, physical work has just begun for two work packages, namely the construction of the Sirombu-Afulu road and bridge in North Nias and West Nias districts and the construction of the Batahan Baru road-Parlimbungan Ketek Harbor in Mandailing Natal with a contract value of Rp51.7 billion," Atmawidjaja said.

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Meanwhile, work in Lampung province, particularly on the Korpri-Purwotani intersection or the Itera/Kotabaru Toll access road, which was also reviewed by President Widodo and Minister Hadimuljono in May, the progress has reached 42 percent, with the project valued at Rp68.16 billion, he added.

"In Lampung province, IJD work is also being completed to repair the Kota Gajah-Simpang Randu road. The progress is currently at 27 percent," he said.

Furthermore, in Jambi province, which was also visited by President Widodo and Minister Hadimuljono, repairs are currently being completed on Simpang Ahok (Jambi city)-Simpang Pasar Bumi Perkemahan Pramuka, which consist of three packages worth Rp139.3 billion, with the progress of work recorded at 21.1 percent, Atmawidjaja informed.

Meanwhile, in Central Java province, the reconstruction of the Surakarta-Gemolong (Sragen)-Purwodadi Road is being completed with a work package worth Rp97.48 billion. The construction progress has reached 78 percent, he said.

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Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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