Cianjur Square to be Pilot Project for Town Square across Indonesia

President Jokowi gives instruction to Village Heads and Village Officials of Cianjur Regency, at Cianjur Square, Friday (8/2) (Photo: PR/Rahmat)

The newly-built Cianjur Square serves as a pilot project that can inspire other 514 regencies/cities throughout Indonesia to build similar public space in their regions, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“A square is a public place, social and culture place as well as a democratic place where people can meet and greet each other to form a social bond,” the President said in his directives to Village Heads and Village Officials of Cianjur Regency, at Cianjur Public Square, Friday (8/2).

“I will order Minister of Public Works and Public Housing to build modern and artistic squares in their regencies/cities across the country starting next year,” President Jokowi added.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also raised several issues, including village fund and the planned construction of the Bogor-Sukabumi-Cianjur-Bandung toll road.

Regarding village fund, the President explained that budget allocation is increasing every year, from Rp20 trillion in 2015, Rp47 trillion in 2016, Rp60 trillion in 2018, to Rp70 trillion in 2019. He added 191 thousand kilometers of village roads have also been built from the village fund across the country.

“Village fund is essential to providing village infrastructure, such as irrigation system, roads, bridges, and early childhood education institutions (PAUD),” President Jokowi added.

The President also mentioned about Bogor-Sukabumi-Cianjur-Bandung Toll Road, whose construction is set to begin this year and is expected to be completed in 2020. Today, people who want to travel to Bandung (West Java province) by road must drive through the national roads or the heavily congested Cikampek-Padalarang toll toad.

President Jokowi expressed hope that the Bogor-Sukabumi-Cianjur-Bandung toll road will become an alternative route and at the same time ease congestion in the existing route.

“The most important thing is to speed up mobility of people and logistics, and in turn reduce travel costs,” the President concluded. (DNA/EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: Muhardi
Proofread by: M. Ersan Pamungkas