Road infrastructure development continues to be carried out by the government through PT Hutama Karya (Persero) in order to reach remote areas of Papua and increase connectivity between regions. Most recently, PT Hutama Karya has succeeded in completing the physical construction of the Muri-Kwatisore Road Phase I project faster than the specified contract time.
The road that connects Muri Village to Kwatisore Village, West Papua, is 16 km long. The sampling stage has been carried out for lab tests for the feasibility of national road standards, so that it will be handed over at the end of November 2023, and the road can immediately be used and utilized by the local community to facilitate inter-connectivity. region.
Executive Vice President (EVP) Corporate Secretary Hutama Karya, Tjahjo Purnomo said that the road which is part of the Trans Papua Road is expected to open up regional isolation and increase connectivity between regions. He explained that connectivity between regions is important to improve and speed up, especially so that education, information and the flow of goods, services and people run smoothly, effectively and efficiently.
This road was completed faster than the original target of completion in February 2024, however, the quality of the road, aesthetics and environmental sustainability were the main things during the construction period. This Rp. 137.8 billion project also involves local communities in structural work such as stone installation, ironwork, casting and several Human Resources (HR) who are empowered to become flagmen on the Muri-Kwatisore Road project so they can collaborate to produce the best work.
For your information, in completing this project, Hutama Karya collaborated with a local Papuan contractor, namely PT Gema Papua, through a Joint Operation (KSO) (Hutama-Gemapapua) with Hutama Karya (70%) and Gema Papua (30%) each portion.
With the imminent arrival of the Muri – Kwatisore access road, it is hoped that it will facilitate logistical access from the West Papua border to Central Papua, make it easier for pupils and students to access travel to school or college and can become a means of transportation to support the local community’s economy.
Meanwhile, Deputy for Investment Promotion at the Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board, Nurul Ikhwan, said that infrastructure development would be in line with the arrival of incoming investment into Papua. As a result, the welfare of the Papuan people will increase. Papua will become a developed and prosperous region like the island of Java and other areas.
He explained that in the era of President Jokowi he really paid attention to development needs in Papua. Breakthrough after breakthrough in infrastructure development continues to be accelerated in a more integrated, precise, focused and synergistic manner with ministries/institutions and regional governments. The aim is to cut administration, improve health services and educational facilities. With equitable development, society will become more advanced.
An area does require adequate transportation to be able to reach other areas easily. Such as roads, airports and ports are the most important mobility for carrying out buying and selling activities. Indeed, this activity can certainly help increase regional economic income.
Infrastructure development in eastern Indonesia shows the seriousness of President Jokowi’s government in advancing Papua. If the infrastructure has been built, it is hoped that the distance between regions and provincial government offices and the people will be closer.
Steps to build infrastructure in Papua will eventually open up regional isolation and increase access and connectivity from land and multimodal, including the construction of the Trans Papua Road with a total length of 3,462 kilometers.
Papua has a lot of potential, both natural resources and human resources. So, the government wants the region to be more developed with this potential. President Jokowi can utilize this potential to advance Papua by expanding infrastructure development so that Papua’s welfare is even better.
Papua’s infrastructure development only started in 1970, so there is a gap in the development that has occurred over the past few years with other regions in Indonesia. But with massive infrastructure development, it will reduce and equalize Papua with other regions. This infrastructure development can improve the economy in Papua. Starting from the production sector to the distribution of goods and services to the market.
The completion of the physical construction of the Muri-Kwatisore Road Phase I project shows the seriousness of President Jokowi’s government in advancing Papua. If the infrastructure has been built, it is hoped that the distance between regions and provincial government offices and the people will be closer. So, natural potential can be utilized optimally for the welfare of the indigenous Papuan people.
Therefore, full support from the community is needed in developing infrastructure in Papua. The people realized that massive development was being carried out for good purposes and for their progress. With integration and cooperation, infrastructure development will run well and on time.
