Governor: Sipiongot road development awaited for 81 years
The Governor of North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, has ensured that the construction of three provincial road sections in the Sipionlagot area, North Padang Lawas Regency, is a development that the community has awaited for 81 years.
Bobby stated that this infrastructure project is not merely a political promise, but a fundamental obligation of the North Sumatra Provincial Government to provide the best possible public services. “This is our duty as a government. We have agreed today that the provincial government, together with the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), must not undertake regional development in a fragmented manner,” Bobby said following a community gathering in Medan on Sunday.
The Governor noted that the event served as a momentum for the Dolok Sipiongot Family Association (IKDS) to express their gratitude for the start of infrastructure development in their home region.
Data from the North Sumatra Department of Highways and Construction indicates that an allocation of Rp230 billion has been designated for the construction of the three provincial road sections in the Sipiongot area. “The requirement is that at least 40 per cent of the total road damage must be fully resolved within a single budget cycle, and there must be alternative routes during construction to ensure quality is maintained,” Bobby added.
The Governor also shared his personal experience during his first inspection of the road conditions in Sipiongot, noting that reaching a remote village required travelling through damaged forest roads until two in the morning. “Seeing the condition of the people directly in the field brought me to tears. Since then, I have been determined that during my term, I promise this development must be fulfilled because its impact will be felt by the community forever,” said Bobby.
To accelerate infrastructure development, the provincial government has increased the budget for the North Sumatra Department of Highways and Construction to Rp1.9 trillion this year.
The Deputy Chairman of the North Sumatra DPRD, Ihwan Ritonga, stated that this infrastructure development marks a turning point for Sipiongot, which has not experienced comprehensive road development for 81 years. “For the 12 years I have been in the DPRD, I have continued to oversee this issue. Previously, construction was done bit by bit—two kilometres, five kilometres—but it was never completed,” said Ihwan, who also serves as an advisor to the IKDS.
He expressed appreciation for the North Sumatra Provincial Government’s attention to the Sipiongot infrastructure, noting that community leaders have not enjoyed comprehensive development since Indonesia’s independence. “It has been 8ly years since Indonesia gained independence, and only under the leadership of Governor Bobby Nasution has our region experienced total development,” concluded Ihwan Ritonga.