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Government targets 2009 to complete repairs on Indonesia's road network

The central government has announced it plans to complete road repairs by 2009, in response to a national public outcry on the poor condition of roads

Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post)
Medan
Tue, March 25, 2008

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Government targets 2009 to complete repairs on Indonesia's road network

The central government has announced it plans to complete road repairs by 2009, in response to a national public outcry on the poor condition of roads.

National Development Planning Board deputy head, Max H. Pohan, said good infrastructure was vital for economic growth and the poor condition of roads could not be ignored for too long.

"The government has set 2009 as a target for completing all road repairs. We will complete the roadwork in stages in every province by prioritizing roads that lead to production centers," Max told the media Monday, after opening the 2008 North Sumatra Development and Planning Conference.

Max said North Sumatra was one of the provinces where the government would focus its roadwork project because of its role as a leader in global competition, especially since the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community.

North Sumatra Development Planning Board head, R.E. Nainggolan, said the central government would concentrate on repairing the province's east coast highway this year.

Nainggolan praised the government's efforts in focusing on the east coast highway but said it was inadequate given the extent of damaged roads in the province.

"Pretty much the entire road system in North Sumatra is in poor shape. This is likely to have a negative impact on the improvement of people's living standards," said Nainggolan.

He said, according to current data, almost 20 percent of the 2,098 kilometer national road network in the province was in poor condition, while 30 percent of the total 2,752 kilometers of provincial roads and 47 percent of the total 27,177 kilometers of regency and city roads were damaged.

Nainggolan said his office would pay close attention to infrastructure issues during the conference.

He said most, if not all, of the regional leaders in North Sumatra had voiced their concern about impeded economic growth because of the inferior condition of infrastructure.

"Many investors are reluctant to do business because of poor infrastructure in the province. This is a setback for us, but what else can we say?" Nainggolan said.

"We don't have sufficient means to restore the damaged infrastructure."

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