“I have repeatedly said that infrastructure must be multifunctional, being able to serve different purposes,” he remarked in Jakarta on Thursday after an F-16 aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force perfectly maneuvered on the Trans-Sumatera Toll Road the previous day.
He cited dams as an example, noting that their functions go beyond raw water supplies and flood control, extending to renewable energy sources and venues for sports and tourism.
“The same applies to roads; if the strength and width allow, they can be used as emergency runways for aircraft in addition to accommodating land movements of people, goods, and services,” AHY added.
The minister further argued that, as a country with a vast expanse of territory, Indonesia should consider positioning its basic transport infrastructure as supporting means for defense.
“Developing roads and bridges strong and wide enough to serve fighter jets can help beef up the country’s defense posture. Moreover, such infrastructure can facilitate planes reaching various regions, including during disaster emergencies,” he stated.
In this regard, AHY stressed the importance of enhancing infrastructure planning in support of budget efficiency.
“I believe it would be better if every rupiah spent on development resulted in infrastructure with multiple purposes and roles,” he concluded.
On Wednesday (Feb. 11), Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti confirmed that the Terbanggi Besar–Pematang Panggang–Kayu Agung section of the Trans-Sumatera Toll Road had successfully served military aircraft.
She said the drill, involving F-16 and EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft, took place within a three-kilometer stretch of the toll road section in Lampung Province and proved the notion that toll roads hold a more strategic value than mere land transport infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Defense Vice Marshal (Ret.) Donny Ermawan Taufanto noted the exercise as the first of its kind in Indonesia.
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Translator: Suharsana A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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