River transportation abandoned

River transportation abandoned

MARTAPURA, South Kalimantan: Residents of Mekar Sari village, Kertak Hanyar district, Banjar regency have gradually moved over to using ground transportation, rather than boats.

Spokesman for Banjar regency Syahda Mariadi said here on Thursday that the main modes of transportation in Kalimantan in general were mostly boats and rafts.

"But since the beginning of the 1990s, when the government developed and constructed roads, people, especially the Mekar Sari villagers, turned to ground transportation for their daily activities, which include selling crop produce," Syahda said.

The road development and construction project in the village continues, he said, citing that a 700-meter road would be jointly built by locals and Army members.

"The project started on Oct. 17 when some 100 Army personnel arrived in the village," he said. --Antara