Eighty-Year Wait in Vain: Rp18 Billion Road in Nagekeo Damaged Within a Month
The hopes of residents in Ngera and Lewa Ngera villages, Keo Tengah District, Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to finally enjoy smooth roads after decades of independence have been shattered. A hotmix road project worth Rp18.3 billion, which was only completed in late 2025, has already suffered severe damage despite being in use for less than a month.
Field observations reveal significant deterioration along the 4-kilometre Mauponggo-Ngera-Puuwada road section. The hotmix asphalt, which should be durable, is now riddled with wide cracks that are leaking mud deposits. In several locations, the asphalt has fractured into large chunks that pose a danger to motorists.
Residents strongly suspect violations of technical specifications during project construction. One major concern raised is the use of a grader heavy machine to lay asphalt, when an asphalt finisher should have been used to ensure surface quality.
“They used a large truck to load the asphalt and then used a grader which should only be used to level the aggregate. That’s strange; I’ve never seen that done in hotmix work before,” said one resident in a video that has since circulated on social media.
Based on information gathered, the project comprises two work packages under the 2025 Fiscal Year Regional Road Presidential Instruction Programme, with a combined contract value of Rp18.397.888.000. The project falls under the supervision of consultant PT Maha Charisma Adiguna.
Despite the substantial budget, the quality of construction falls far short of the General Specifications of the Directorate General of Highways standard. A road engineering expert contacted confirmed that weather or rainfall cannot be blamed for premature deterioration if the base course is properly constructed. “If the soil is unstable, there are alternative techniques such as cement-based foundation to strengthen the structure. Rain is not an excuse unless a major disaster occurs,” the expert stated.
However, a company worker named Yanto claimed that the road is still undergoing maintenance and has been hampered by unstable soil conditions caused by rain during late-year construction work.
Deep disappointment was also expressed by Viktor Tegu, a member of the Nagekeo Regency DPRD. He urged the government to immediately repair the road quality to prevent state financial loss. “Most importantly, improve the quality of the road being constructed so it lasts longer,” he said.
As of publication, Ricard Manukoa, the Project Commitment Making Official (PPK), has not responded despite being contacted multiple times by journalists for clarification regarding the road damage.