The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) will build a 300 meter long pedestrian suspension bridge in Tolikara Regency, Papua. This is a challenge, because so far the suspension bridge that was built has a length ranging from 60 to 120 meters. To realize the construction, in preparation for the Directorate General (DG) of Bina Marga in cooperation with the Research and Development Agency (Balitbang).

"The Minister asked for one very long length of 300 meters in Papua. In Papua, there are many people left behind in the mountains, rather than going up and down again, we build bridges, "said Director General (Dirjen) of Bina Marga Arie Setiadi Moerwanto after attending a Working Meeting with Commission V of the Indonesian Parliament in Jakarta on Thursday (18 / 1).

Arie continued, for the construction, his party did make modifications or changes compared to the bridge that was normally built. In addition, the construction costs are also different from other suspension bridges. Arie said that the cost of constructing the bridge in Papua would be higher than the construction of one other suspension bridge that needed Rp4 billion.

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing through the Directorate General of Highways has built 32 suspension bridges from 2015 to 2017. This year, Arie said that the Directorate General of Highways has allocated funds for the construction of 140 bridges. According to Arie, the interest of the Regional Government on the construction of this bridge is very large. There are several criteria in its implementation, one of which the relevant Regional Government must be willing to accept the bridge grant when it has been built and is obliged to maintain it.

"Many are enthusiastic about this bridge, members of the House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Government, other criteria of the bridge, for example connecting to schools so that students can learn more easily," he explained.

Other requirements for the proposed location of the bridge construction come from the community or elements of the TNI which are forwarded by the Regional Government to the Minister of PUPR. The proposal can also come from higher education institutions to the Minister of PUPR. In addition, the suspension bridge land has been freed and access roads have been prepared by the regional government or higher education institutions.

Arie added, the number of suspension bridges construction this year could still increase according to the request of President Joko Widodo who wanted to build 300 bridges. Apart from the 140 bridges where the budget is available, for the construction of 160 other bridges, the Directorate General of Highways will use the remaining funds from the auction.

The government hopes the construction of the suspension bridge is the continuity of economic level distribution between villages, facilitating children's access to school, facilitating evacuation routes for citizens in disaster-prone areas and other things in support of President Jokowi's Nawa Cita 3rd point namely building Indonesia from periphery by strengthening regions and villages within the framework of the Unitary State. (KompuBM)