Jakarta - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has completed the construction of a suspension bridge and an environmental road in Kaye Village, Agats District, Asmat Regency, Papua Province. The construction of roads and suspension bridges is part of a number of basic infrastructure built by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing to support the improvement of the quality of life of people in Asmat Regency who experienced an outbreak of measles and malnutrition in early 2018.

Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said the Ministry of PUPR has had a list of housing infrastructure development activities in Asmat Regency, both short and medium term ranging from clean water infrastructure, sanitation, bridges, village road repair, house renovation, and settlement construction new.

Head of Jayapura National Road XVIII Implementation Center Osman H. Marbun said, the main purpose of the construction of the suspension bridge and the environmental road is to provide ease of movement between villages and open isolation of the river-separated areas. Construction of environmental roads uses concrete road construction (pile slabs) because the Asmat Regency is a swampy area.

"For roads and bridges, physical construction has been completed. Since 2018 the Ministry of PUPR has been carrying out physical development for the community, this is so that the time span and reach between villages, districts can be passed by shortening the distance to improve the economy of the local community, "Osman said.

Osman said, the community was able to use the suspension bridge facility that connects Keye Village to the Asmat Capital City, Agats. Construction of the suspension bridge and the suspension bridge itself uses the Ministry of PUPR's budget at a cost of Rp 89.1 billion, which began in September 2018 and was completed on March 30, 2019.

The suspension bridge was built along 72 meters with a width of 1.6 meters, while for an environmental road that was built along 2.9 km with a width of 4 meters. The construction was carried out by a contractor, PT. Wijaya Karya by involving local workers from a number of villages including Kaye, Syuru, and Aswet.

"The roads and bridges that have been built surround several residential community lanes in the capital city of Agats, Asmat Regency, such as in Kaye Village, Suru Village and also roads to other public facilities such as to the new hospital and Asmat Museum. So that its existence will greatly help community activities in Asmat, including the local economy will improve, said Osman.

Osman added, in 2019 until 2020, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing will continue the construction of 16 km of concrete roads, as well as the construction of 4 suspension bridges with a total length of 330 meters which will be built in several districts in Asmat Regency. Construction of a suspension bridge is also urgently needed to encourage residents to occupy special houses that have been built by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in a number of villages separated by rivers.

Since 2016, the Ministry of PUPR has built 114 special housing units at a cost of Rp 19.9 billion in Amanamkai Village and Syuru Village, Agats District as many as 114 Units. In 2018, 100 special housing units will be rebuilt spread across 4 villages, namely Fayid District (34 units) Priend Village, Ass Village and Pulau Tiga District Atat Village (33 units), and Warkai Village Betsbamu District (33 units). (* )

Public Communications Bureau

Ministry of PUPR