Breakthrough in Tackling Congestion, Clean Water Now Clear—People Growing More Comfortable
It has been one year since the pair I Wayan Adi Arnawa and Bagus Alit Sucipta have led Badung Regency since officially taking office on 20 February 2025. With the vision of “Realising Quality Tourism in Badung Based on Sat Kerthi Loka Bali Values,” the Badung Regency Government launched the flagship programme “Sapta Kriya Adi Cipta” to address fundamental problems in the “Land of Keris.”
“In implementing quality tourism in Badung, we will focus on infrastructure development to support the tourism sector, including tackling congestion, waste problems, clean water supply, and infrastructure improvements,” explained Adi Arnawa when interviewed by detikBali in Badung.
TACKLING CONGESTION: TRAFFIC ENGINEERING TO NEW ROADS WORTH RP 2.8 TRILLION
Badung Regency has taken swift action to address congestion at critical tourism points, including through one-way Traffic Management Engineering (MRLL) in the Kerobokan Kelod area. As a result, the average travel time, which was previously 19.8 minutes, has been drastically reduced to 4.93 minutes with average vehicle speed increasing to 39.9 km/h.
“In addition to promoting road infrastructure development programmes, this is what we are doing in minimal efforts to relieve congestion, particularly in front of Kerobokan Prison which experiences daily congestion. This is a short-term measure whilst we prepare new roads,” said the PDI-P politician to detikBali.
Not only traffic engineering, Badung Regency is accelerating the construction of four new road routes in North Kuta funded by a loan from PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI) valued at Rp 2.8 trillion. Covering the Pecatu-Melasti Route to Banjar Semer-Kedampang, this project is targeted for completion by the end of 2026 as a permanent solution for tourist convenience.
“As Regent, I have already created a programme for 2026, and this will soon be undertaken for tender of new road construction for the North Kuta area. We will soon carry out physical construction from Berawa through to West Teuku Umar Road to ensure smoother accessibility,” explained Adi Arnawa when met at the Badung Regional Office.
Meanwhile, the strategic South Ringroad Project (JLS) is continuing to progress with land acquisition at a rate supported fully by landholding residents. The target is completion of land acquisition by April 2026 to support physical construction planned to continue until 2027.
“We are now preparing physical tender whilst accelerating land acquisition for three remaining routes in South Kuta such as the Balangan Beach route to Green Jimbaran. We want to ensure mobility in the southern region is no longer hampered by severe vehicle congestion,” explained the Badung Public Works Department in a statement.
WAR AGAINST WASTE: OPTIMISATION OF TPS3R AND IRRIGATION NORMALISATION
In waste management, Regent Adi Arnawa is promoting village independence through optimisation of Integrated Waste Management Facilities (TPS3R) as already implemented in Pecatu Village, Tanjung Benoa (Panca Lestari TPS), and Kedonganan. This strategy is accompanied by regular river and irrigation channel cleaning to prevent siltation and flooding in vulnerable areas.
“We open the broadest possible space for waste technology vendors to collaborate with village and urban officials to find the most effective treatment solutions. Besides household waste, the Public Works Department team also routinely hauls sediment and sludge from drainage to maintain irrigation function during the rainy season,” said Adi Arnawa explaining his environmental strategy.
Not only on land, coastal cleanliness which is a tourism magnet is also given attention through intensive cleaning with the Department of Environmental Hygiene and Cleanliness (DLHK). Locations such as Kelan Beach, Jimbaran, and Petitenget are the primary focus for sea waste cleaning which often accumulates due to weather factors.
“This activity is our concrete step to address sea waste that damages beach beauty, so transport fleets are stationed daily at these tourism points. We involve many personnel so collected waste can be immediately transported and does not accumulate long on the beach edge,” he added.
BADUNG’S SOUTH WATER CRISIS RESOLVED THROUGH UNDERWATER PIPELINE
The long-standing clean water crisis in South Badung is beginning to see light through a groundbreaking underwater pipeline network project from Estuary WTP to Nusa Dua in September 2025. The business-to-business (B2B) cooperation between Perumda Tirta Mangutama with PT Pipa Ticini increases water distribution from 420 litres per second to 490 litres per second.
“Badung Regency is committed to resolving this clean water problem, from increasing raw water supply to installing underwater pipelines to South Kuta. I am optimistic this project will be completed soon and water will flow smoothly to residents’ homes by mid-February 2026,” stated Adi Arnawa with confidence.
PRESERVING TRADITION: OGOH-OGOH FUNDING DOUBLED
Support for customary traditions and culture is demonstrated by doubling the ogoh-ogoh creativity fund for 597 Youth Associations in Badung, from Rp 20 million to Rp 40 million per banjar (hamlet) in 2026. Additionally, birthday assistance funds for Youth Associations have also been increased to Rp 20 million as a stimulus for youth creativity.
“Ogoh-ogoh assistance for 2026 has been distributed at Rp 40 million per youth association, doubled compared to last year. My message is, utilise this for fine artwork, but do not allow drunkenness because it tarnishes the image of the ritual we are proud of,” said Adi Arnawa when distributing assistance at the Giri Nata Mandala Cultural Hall.
The Regency is also strengthening cultural icons through the construction of a Mekotek Statue in Munggu Village as a symbol of preserving traditions passed down through generations. The government’s presence as a witness in community religious ceremonies is also accompanied by grants for temple development construction reaching billions of rupiah.
“I am present amongst the community to lighten the burden, as in Adat Village Kapal where we provided assistance of Rp 3 billion for temple construction,” he added.