Mataram PUPR Department Has Only Rp 200 Million for Pothole Road Repairs

The Mataram Public Works and Spatial Planning Department (PUPR) has only a budget of Rp 200 million for patching potholes on roads in 2026. The limited funding means that repairs at various points are unable to fully address the recurring damage, particularly due to the passage of large trucks.

“For patching, there is about Rp 200 million; if it’s self-managed, we do it ourselves. We only buy the materials,” said the Head of the Mataram City PUPR Department, Lale Widiahning, when contacted in Mataram on Monday (11/5/2026).

Lale acknowledged that the budget is far from sufficient. This is because requests for road patching continue to increase, especially on neighbourhood roads that become damaged again after being repaired.

“Yes, it’s not (enough). Because now there are so many requests for patching; we’ll see the remaining budget later. If (it’s short), we’ll propose it in the ABT for patching. Because there are so many requests right now,” Lale explained.

According to Lale, road damage in Mataram City is caused by large-tonnage vehicles passing through roads specified with city asphalt. In fact, the type of asphalt for city roads differs from that of national roads.

“If we’re honest, roads have classifications. City roads actually shouldn’t have many tronton trucks, large trucks, or fusos passing through. Because our asphalt type is different from national roads,” she clarified.

She gave the example of Jalan TGH Faesal in the Sweta area, which often becomes damaged even after being patched several times. The activity of heavy vehicles heading to cement warehouses is said to be one of the main causes.

“Once repaired, then damaged again, because why? Because there are cement warehouses there; just imagine how many tonnes a cement warehouse loads at once. That’s what makes our roads deteriorate quickly,” she said.

Observations by detikBali show that the Mataram City PUPR Department is again carrying out patching on Jalan Lingkar Selatan, Dasan Cermen, Sandubaya. That road section has potholes again due to the high intensity of large trucks passing through every day.