Residents of Amfoang Barat Daya district in Kupang Regency, East Nusa\nTenggara (NTT), are awaiting the restoration of a vital transport link\ndisrupted when the Termanu Bridge collapsed in 2021.<\/p>\n
Construction of the bridge is now being accelerated, with completion\nexpected by the end of this year. General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak, head\nof the National Agency for Border Management and Disadvantaged Areas\n(BNPPDT), inspected progress on the Termanu and Kapsali bridges on\nSaturday (24 October 2026).<\/p>\n
The two bridges are expected to restore connectivity and make it\neasier for local people to travel. The damage to the Termanu Bridge has\naffected residents\u2019 access to schools, markets and healthcare\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
Maruli said the bridge construction had been ordered directly by the\nPresident. To speed up the work, the government had sent personnel and\nequipment from Jakarta by ship.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe President ordered me to work on this bridge,\u201d Maruli said during\nhis visit to the construction site.<\/p>\n
He explained that personnel and equipment had been deployed to\nsupport the completion of several bridges in the area, with additional\npersonnel and supplies also being prepared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe sent a ship with all the equipment and personnel from Jakarta so\nwe could complete work on several of these bridges, and we will add more\nlater,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Maruli said he hoped the Termanu Bridge would be completed before the\nturn of the year. He described its completion as a hoped-for Christmas\ngift for the people of Amfoang.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, this can be a Christmas gift from the President and all\nof us to you. Be assured that we will never stop helping the community,\u201d\nMaruli said.<\/p>\n
Alongside infrastructure development, Maruli urged residents to\ncontinue working and to pay attention to their children\u2019s education,\nincluding religious education.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat matters is that you work hard and give your children a good\neducation, both religious and formal, so that they can become the\nnation\u2019s hope in the future,\u201d Maruli said.<\/p>\n
The government is also seeking to support residents\u2019 basic needs,\nincluding access to clean water.<\/p>\n
Maruli was accompanied on the inspection by BNPPDT Secretary Makhruzi\nRahman; Nurdin, deputy for state border management; Edi Nurhabad, deputy\nfor infrastructure management in border areas; and Topri Daeng Balaw,\nassistant deputy for land border area potential.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/collapsed-bridge-in-kupang-targeted-for-completion-by-year-end-general-maruli-says-it-will-be-a-christmas-1792871422", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }