Govt seeks Rp 2.3t for road repair in Java, Sumatra

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is seeking Rp 2.3 trillion (US$260 million) to repair damaged roads on the eastern coast of Sumatra island and Java's northern coast, according to a cabinet minister.

Minister for Settlement and Infrastructure Soenarno said Tuesday that his office had set up two teams to deal with repair work on the two islands.

"This (the repair of damaged roads) is the responsibility of my office. We have informed legislators that we need Rp 2.3 trillion to repair Sumatra's eastern roads and roads on Java's northern coastal areas," Soenarno told The Jakarta Post Tuesday after a hearing with House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IV in charge of transportation and infrastructure affairs.

He was quick to add that damaged roads on other islands would also be repaired.

Soenarno revealed that the government was considering replacing asphalt roads in certain areas with concrete roads, which are considered to be more durable.

He said roads along Java's northern coastal areas were among those to be replaced with concrete roads because some parts were mountainous.

Data from the ministry of settlement and infrastructure shows that up to March 2002, the length of roads on the eastern coast of Sumatra reached 2,300 kilometers, of which some 408 kilometers are lightly damaged and 173 kilometers heavily damaged.

The roads in the northern coastal areas of Java stretch 1,172 kilometers, of which 238 kilometers suffered from light damage and 19 kilometers were heavily damaged.

Some sections of road in southern Kalimantan and Sulawesi are also damaged. The length of roads in South Kalimantan reach 3,100 kilometers, of which 457 kilometers are lightly damaged and 154 kilometers heavily damaged.

Meanwhile, some legislators blamed the increasing number of damaged roads on collusion between the highway patrol and drivers of container trucks.

The highway patrol often allows overweight trucks to pass after receiving bribes, knowing very well that overloaded trucks could damage the roads.

Ahmad Muqowam of the United Development Party (PPP) said Tuesday that supervision activities could not be carried out due to rampant collusion between the officers and drivers.

"There should be a collective conscience in all of us, the supervisors and the users of the roads," Muqowam told the Post.

Indonesia already has in force Law No.13/1980 on road affairs which provides clear regulations on the quality, thickness, and specifications of roads.

Fellow legislator Erman Suparno of the National Awakening Party (PKB) acknowledged that the practice of mark-up during the construction of roads might be one factor that accelerates road damage.

However, Erman said that collusion between the officers and drivers may be the major factor causing the damage. "This problem has become a major concern," Erman added.

Syaiful Achmad of the Reform faction concurred with Muqowam and Erman, saying that violations involving the maximum limit of permitted weight was the major factor causing the damage.

Asked if manipulation of data during construction has produced low quality roads, Syaiful said the participation of professional people from abroad in the construction has hampered such practices.

According to Syaiful, legislators have considered making revisions to the road law, specifically by recommending the upgrading of road specifications from 8 tons to 12 tons.

"We will revise the law because several articles in it have become outdated," Syaiful said.