Ministry of Public Works Responds to Aceh Residents Crowdfunding Bridge and Road Repairs

Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works, Apri Artoto, has confirmed that the construction of a bridge in the Bener Meriah region of Aceh will proceed according to the ministry’s established programme. This statement follows a community fundraising effort by local residents to accelerate the repair of the Enang-Enang bridge, which was damaged by a landslide in November 2025. ‘The construction programme at the Ministry of Public Works will continue as planned,’ Apri told journalists at the ministry’s office in Jakarta on Tuesday. He stated that the bridge construction would adhere to government programmes designed to meet technical standards and ensure public safety. Apri also addressed the community’s independent fundraising, which reportedly reached IDR 1 billion, to repair the bridge used for daily access. He expressed concern that a self-managed construction project might result in casualties due to inadequate safety standards. ‘We are concerned about public safety. If it is carried out independently, we worry about the safety of bridge users. So, we will continue with our programme,’ he explained. He also mentioned that the Minister of Public Works and a task force team plan to visit Aceh to monitor the progress of the Enang-Enang bridge construction in Pintu Rime Gayo District, Bener Meriah Regency. The bridge construction is a government priority as part of post-disaster recovery. The ministry is also continuing work on the completion of community schools and preparations for El Niño. Previously, the Aceh National Road Implementation Agency stated that the bridge and road in the Enang-Enang area would be built permanently in 2027, with an alternative road currently available for public use. Following flash floods and landslides in Aceh, the Enang-Enang bridge, which connects Bener Meriah and Bireuen regencies, has not yet been optimally repaired. As a result, local residents began repairing the bridge and road independently to make them passable, at least for two-wheeled vehicles.