Cross Border Posts Serve as Economic Embryos, Minister Says
Jakarta, MINA — Minister for Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said cross border posts function as important infrastructures not only in the political and sovereign affairs but also serve as local economic embryos.
“Cross border posts are built not only for gates but also to serve as centers for development of local economic embryos which are expected to improve people`s welfare on border areas,” the minister said in a release received by ANTARA here Sunday.
The minister said his ministry continued developing infrastructures in border areas on the islands of Kalimantan, Papua and East Nusa Tenggara.
Infrastructures in the border areas are needed to open isolated locations and distribute development results as the manifestation of the nine priority programs known as Nawa Cita of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to develop Indonesia from the outer parts of the country in the framework of the unitary State.
In Kalimantan, the target of connecting parallel roads on border areas is expected to meet by the end of 2019. In addition, three cross border posts, namely, Jagoi Babang in West Kalimantan province`s district of Bengkayang, Sei Pancang and Long Midang or Kraya in North Kalimantan province`s district of Nunukan.
Head of the National Road Management Office in Balikpapan of the Directorate General of Road Construction Refly Ruddy Tangkere said parallel roads on the border areas in Kalimantan cover 1,920 kilometers. Roads in North Kalimantan are 824 kilometers long and those in East Kalimantan reach 244 kilometers.
“Of the 1,068-kilometer long roads in East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan, 185-kilometer long roads are not connected yet, namely, 126 kilometers in North Kalimantan and 59 kilometers in East Kalimantan. The roads are expected to be connected and functional by the end of 2019,” he said.
One of the parallel roads on the border areas of East Kalimantan which is under construction is that on the border of West Kalimantan and Tiong Ohang (East Kalimantan) covering 15 kilometers.
On the road, the ministry is developing a duplicate of a 120-meter long suspension bridge connecting Tiong Ohang village and Long Krioq village in Long Apari sub district which is separated by Mahakam River.
The construction of the duplicate of the suspension bridge is intended to reduce the burden of the existing one nearby.
The development of the roads is one of six work packages on road construction projects in East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan which cover 132 kilometers valued at Rp330.72 billion whose contract was signed in January 2018. (T/RS5/RS1)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
