President Jokowi Inaugurates Pak Kasih Tayan Bridge in Kalimantan

President Jokowi Inaugurates Pak Kasih Tayan Bridge in Kalimantan

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that infrastructure development is aimed at bringing benefits for the people and transportation infrastructures are expected to facilitate the mobility of goods and people.

“In the end, the people will get to buy goods and services at a cheaper price,” the President said during the inauguration of Pak Kasih Tayan Bridge in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan, on Tuesday (22/3).

President Jokowi also believes that the people would feel the benefits of the bridge and said that the Government’s seriousness in building the bridge is shown by its fast construction because the people need it.

“Before the bridge was built, cars and motorcycles had to pay Rp. 200,000. Now the people do not have to pay anything,” the President said.

Pak Kasih Tayan Bridge is part of the Trans Kalimantan Highway and the longest bridge in Kalimantan with the total length of 1,650 meters.

The bridge connects West Kalimantan Province in the north and Central Kalimantan Province in the south.

The bridge also has two major sections: the first one spanning 430 meters and the second one 1,220 meters with the width reaching 11 meters.

On that occasion, President Jokowi asserted the Government has to accelerate infrastructure development, be it toll roads, airports, and seaports.

The President also pledged that the construction of a highway that runs parallel to the border with the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, along 1,900 kilometers would be completed in 2019.

The highway stretches from the west point to the east point of Kalimantan and trespasses three provinces, namely the provinces of West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan.

“Our development now is not ‘Java-centrist’ (centered in Java island). We have to prioritize regions outside Java, including border areas,” the President said.

Also accompanying the President during the inauguration ceremony were First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Minister of Education and Culture Anies Baswedan and Governor of West Kalimantan Cornelis. (TKP/ES) (Naster/YM/EP)