Government Accelerates Permanent Repairs for South Nias Route
The Nias Regency Government, in collaboration with the North Sumatra National Road Implementation Office (BBPJN), is working to ensure the Nias-South Nias connecting route remains passable following subsequent landslides that damaged the national road in Sindrondro Village, Bawolato District. Temporary handling is being conducted while preparations for permanent repairs at this critical point are underway.
Subsequent landslides occurred on 25 July 2026 at kilometer 47+800. This stretch of road serves as a vital access point for community mobility and the distribution of basic necessities, including fuel supplies to the South Nias Regency.
The Head of the National Road Implementation Working Unit for Region III North Sumatra, Syamsul Rizal, stated that permanent handling has been included in the road preservation package. The procurement process is currently in the service provider evaluation stage and is targeted for completion by the end of September 2026. He disclosed this during the North Sumatra Regional Coordination Meeting for the Nias Islands recently.
“We hope that by the end of September, a service provider will have been secured so that repairs to critical points can be carried out immediately,” Syamsul said in a written statement on Sunday (30/8/2026).
While awaiting permanent repairs, vehicles are still permitted to pass the location with a maximum weight limit of 10 tonnes. This regulation has been implemented to maintain public access while adjusting vehicle loads to the condition of the affected road.
Fuel distribution to South Nias continues through coordination between the Nias Regency Government and PT Pertamina Patra Niaga. Fuel tankers with a capacity of approximately 5,000 litres can still pass through the location, while loads from vehicles with capacities of 8,000 and 16,000 litres are transferred using an over-pumping method.
Under this scheme, fuel is transferred from tankers on the side before the landslide to other vehicles waiting on the side after the landslide. The distribution process takes longer than normal conditions, but it is able to maintain the energy supply to South Nias.
“The acceleration of road repairs is also being monitored by the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (Satgas PRR) for Sumatra. The monitoring is directed towards strengthening coordination between the central government, local government, BBPJN North Sumatra, and Pertamina to maintain access and the supply of community needs,” he added.
Meanwhile, the North Sumatra Regional Coordinator of the National Post for the PRR Task Force, Brigadier General TNI Fadjar Tjahjono, stated that the Task Force continues to push for the procurement stages and permanent works to proceed according to plan.
“This is our duty within the Task Force: to perform acceleration and ensure that the work is executed properly,” Fadjar concluded.