The Bekasi administration has allocated Rp 402 billion (US$27.4 million) to fund 740 road construction and water tunnel restoration projects in its 2019 budget.

Bekasi Bina Marga and Water Resource Agency’s planning division head Dicky Irawan said most of the money would be used for water tunnel restoration projects.

“We have received plenty of reports from people regarding water tunnel problems. Nearly all water tunnels in the city will be restored to control flooding,” he said on Tuesday as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com.

Dicky claimed that Bekasi would also receive an additional Rp 443 billion from the Jakarta administration, West Java province and the central government’s 2019 budget.

Of the figure, Jakarta contributed Rp 423 billion. According to Dicky, the money will fund four projects, namely the construction of the Cipendawa overpass (Rp 286 billion), Rawapanjang overpass (Rp 117 billion), an underground tunnel in Pondok Gede (Rp 15 billion) and street lighting (Rp 5 billion).

“Around Rp 11 billion from the central government is to fund the development of the Rawabaru inspection road,” he added, mentioning the normalization of the Bekasi, Cakung and Sunter rivers along with the inspection road.

“The project will be under the Public Works and Housing Ministry through the Ciliwung-Cisadane Flood Control Office [BBWSCC]. The rivers often overflow and cause flooding affecting residences nearby,” he said. (vla)