"If the fund allocation is increased and sped up, we hope the two trans Papua roads can be completed in the next five years," Governor Suebu said here on Sunday.
The governor said the funds for the construction of the two roads came from the state budget and infrastructure funds from the special autonomy budget.
According to him the construction of 369 kilometers road linking Timika-Enarotali Paniai cost around Rp900 billion while the 511-kilometer road linking Merauke-Tanah Merah-Waropko would cost Rp2.2 trillion.
When completed, the Timika-Enarotali Pania road is expected to be the first trans Papua road to connect the south coast and north coast of Papua.
Suebu also hoped that when the north and south coasts had been connected, it would support the economic development of the people living in Pegunungan Tengah region.
While the Merauke - Tanah Merah - Waropko trans road is planned to be extended through a number of districts bordering Papua New Guinea to Jayapura, and when completed it will be the longest and 1,000 kilometers road in Papua.
Therefore the governor asked all district governments in the province to focus on the construction of the trans Papua roads that would connect the provincial capital city of Jayapura with other towns and villages.
"We really need the participation of all the district governments in the construction of the trans roads so that they can be completed on time," Governor Suebu said.
According to the governor, the ultimate goal of various development programs including the construction of the trans Papua roads was to raise the welfare of the local people.
"Please keep in mind that the goal of economic development in Papua is to improve the local people`s welfare," Governor Suebu said.(*)
(O001/H-NG/o001)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
