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Trans-Papua road set to be completed next year
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Vehicles pass along a road in Tageneri, Puncak Jaya regency, in August 2016. Mud frequently covers the road, particularly after heavy rains because of landslides. (Antara/Iwan Adisaputra)
T
he development of the 4,300-kilometer trans-Papua road project in Papua and West Papua provinces on Indonesia’s easternmost island is expected to be completed next year, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono has said.
“The construction has seen significant progress,” Basuki said in Jakarta, as reported by tempo.co on Tuesday.
He said 3,850 km of the total 4,300-km road had been constructed, while the remaining section would be developed this year and next year.
(Read also: KPK raises possibility of ‘collusion’ in Papua road project)
Similarly, the ministry had also constructed 884 km of a 1,086-km road project near the border between Papua and Papua New Guinea, he said.
When the construction of the trans-Papua road is finished, it will accelerate development in the provinces because many areas that used to be isolated will be connected to economic centers.
Citing an example, he said the trans-Papua road section from Mamugu-Kenyam-Haberba-Wamena would result in a significant decline in prices of basic commodities and construction materials, particularly cement.
“People have started to benefit from the construction of the trans-Papua road and border road. People who in the past had to travel on foot can use vehicles,” he added.
The government has allocated Rp 7.61 trillion (US$570.75 million) for the construction of infrastructure in the provinces, as well as a Rp 2.18 trillion special allocation fund.
Apart from roads, the ministry is also developing housing and clean water projects. (bbn)
