National Police Chief Inaugurates 57 Jembatan Merah Putih Presisi in South Sumatra to Aid Students' Mobility
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo inaugurated 57 Jembatan Merah Putih Presisi, built by South Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Sandi Nugroho and his team in collaboration with the community. The infrastructure development represents a concrete step by the Indonesian Police (Polri) to enhance mobility for the public, particularly access for schoolchildren in isolated areas.
The inauguration was carried out symbolically during a simultaneous corn-planting event in Ogan Ilir Regency on Saturday, 7 March 2026. General Sigit stressed that the construction of these bridges is a follow-up to the President’s instruction to address the direct needs of the people.
‘Thank you, Mr Police Chief, for carrying out the construction of 57 bridges. This is in line with what the President (Prabowo Subianto) has commanded, namely that these bridges can be utilised by our children who will go to school,’ General Sigit said in his address at the site.
One of the bridges inaugurated was Banyuasin Bridge in Lalang Sembawa Village. This bridge plays a vital role because it significantly shortens the travel distance for pupils to their schools.
General Sigit explained that the presence of this bridge will mean the community no longer has to undertake long detours. The infrastructure is expected to ease the transport burden for residents of the village.
‘Also for communities that may utilise the bridge so that they do not have to turn around too far, which will in turn help relieve and stimulate economic activity in the area or in the villages,’ the former Kabareskrim of Polri said.
The construction of 57 bridges was initiated by the South Sumatra Regional Police as part of Polri’s operational transformation programme aimed at bringing the force closer to the people. The bridges were built to connect areas whose land access had previously been cut off, hampering the distribution of logistics and agricultural produce.
‘I hope this can further boost the motivation of our members to work even better,’ added General Sigit.
In the inauguration, the Police Chief was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan RI) Sudaryono, and Bulog Indonesia Director-General Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani (Ret.). The heads of South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru, South Sumatra Police Chief Sandi Nugroho, and II/Sriwijaya Command (Pangdam II/Sriwijaya) Major General Ujang Darwis were also present.
Wakapolri Komjen Dedi Prasetyo attended the event virtually from Polda Metro Jaya. The Police Chief was accompanied by several senior Polri officials on-site, including the Head of the Intelligence and Security (Kabaintelkam) General Yuda Gustawan, the Commander of Brimob General Ramdani Hidayat, the Assistant to the Chief of Staff General Anwar, the Public Relations Division General Johnny Eddizon Isir, and the Head of the Logistics and Personnel (Karobinkar SSDM) Brigadier General Langgeng Purnomo.
The inauguration was marked by the symbolic signing of a plaque. In addition to the bridges, the ceremony also marked the opening of other facilities, such as PAAKRI City Park and the renovation of Wisma Grand Kemala Polda Sumsel.