Independence Day Gift: Smooth Road for West Bandung Residents
Residents of Cipangeran Village, Saguling District, West Bandung Regency, West Java, are finally pleased because the Purabaya-Jati road, which had long been severely damaged, is now smooth and sturdy. This was achieved after the West Bandung Regency Government repaired it using concrete, making their mobility easier and more efficient with a good road.
The road, which had been damaged for more than 10 years, has become a gift for local residents on the occasion of the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.
Based on data from the West Bandung Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning Office, the total length of the Purabaya-Jati road is 13,030 metres, or more than 13 kilometres. The breakdown is 6,798 metres in good condition, 1,253 metres with light damage, 132 metres with moderate damage, and 4,847 metres with severe damage.
This year, the West Bandung Regency Government repaired 934.5 metres at the severely damaged points along the road. The total budget ceiling prepared reached Rp 4 billion with concrete construction. The road repairs were divided into two segments.
“Alhamdulillah, the road has now been repaired using concrete. Thank you to the West Bandung Regency Government,” said Iis Asria (36), a resident.
According to her, before the repairs under the era of West Bandung Regent and Deputy Regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail-Asep Ismail, the condition of the Purabaya-Jati road in her area was severely damaged. The condition hampered residents’ mobility and not a few vehicles had accidents.
The road is the main access for residents heading to urban areas in West Bandung and an alternative route to Cipongkor, Rongga and surrounding areas. Iis hopes that in the future the road will be repaired up to Kota Baru Parahyangan.
“The damage has been there for a long time. When I came here in 2019 it was already damaged, maybe for more than 10 years. There were repairs but not with concrete like now. So it got damaged again until the stones were visible. Alhamdulillah, now it has been concreted,” she said.
West Bandung Regent Jeje Ritchie Ismail said that the repair of the Purabaya-Jati road is being carried out in stages. This is because if the target is to bring the entire Purabaya-Jati road into good condition, at least around Rp 24 billion in budget would be needed.
Jeje instructed that the repaired road be equipped with drainage. “But insya Allah we will complete the entire road section. I will also ask the regional secretary to record the drainage that must be considered, otherwise it will definitely get damaged again,” said Jeje.
He also advised the community to jointly look after and maintain the repaired road. “My message to residents is to use the road wisely, keep it clean, so that it can last. Insya Allah the quality is also good,” Jeje added.
Jeje is committed to distributing development evenly across all areas and not centralising it only in urban areas, but also targeting remote regions. Therefore, infrastructure improvements such as roads will be carried out in all areas, both in the north, west and south.
“Indeed, there are still many areas in the south, especially the outermost parts of West Bandung, that face difficulties in infrastructure development. For that reason, we are committed to carrying out development comprehensively, not only in the northern areas, but throughout West Bandung so that all communities can feel the impact,” said Jeje.
According to him, good road conditions will greatly affect mobility and the community’s economic activity. “So that people can pass through here comfortably and also so that the economy can run well,” he said.