"I never imagined a road and bridge would be built here after my video of daring to cross the river went viral. I did it purely for humanitarian purposes, to help patients,"
Kabupaten Pasaman (ANTARA) - The Public Works Ministry will build a four-kilometer road and suspension bridge in Pasaman, West Sumatra, after a bridge connecting Dua Koto's villages collapsed, forcing a local health worker to make a perilous river crossing.

"We will build a four-kilometer, 2.5-meter-wide concrete road and a suspension bridge from the Ministry of Public Works," Deputy Chairman of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Andre Rosiade, stated in Pasaman District, West Sumatra, on Thursday.

Rosiade was visiting Sinuangon Hamlet, West Cubadak Village, where a health worker named Dona Lubis braved the river current to treat a tuberculosis patient.

After visiting Cubadak Village, Rosiade stressed that construction of the concrete road and bridge must begin immediately, as three villages -- home to about 670 residents -- lie across the river.

To reach the three farthest villages, residents must traverse a steep path, with certain points along the edge of a cliff. During heavy rains, the route becomes completely impassable due to the mud and highly hazardous conditions.

He explained that the government, through the Ministry of Public Works, has allocated a budget of Rp26.5 billion (US$1.643 million) for the construction of the road and bridge. This includes Rp20 billion for the road and Rp6.5 billion for the suspension bridge.

Since the road and bridge will pass through a protected forest area, Rosiade said he would coordinate promptly with Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, to issue a borrow-use permit.

"Currently, stakeholders are preparing a detailed engineering design, including other environmental documents, to be submitted to the Ministry of Forestry," he revealed.

In addition, Rosiade is pushing for the construction of a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in the village, as residents still struggle to access the internet.

Dona Lubis, the midwife who earlier crossed the river, said she never expected her actions to prompt central government assistance for the road and bridge construction.

"I never imagined a road and bridge would be built here after my video of daring to cross the river went viral. I did it purely for humanitarian purposes, to help patients," she stated.

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Translator: Arie Novarina
Editor: Primayanti
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