President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stands firm on the government’s commitment to ensuring comprehensive development that extends to the heart of rural communities. Jokowi proudly announces a significant milestone, stating that the construction of rural roads has successfully covered an extensive network spanning 350,000 kilometers. This achievement not only showcases the dedication to infrastructure but also surpasses the length of toll roads built across the entire archipelago.
In a meeting with village heads in the Banjarnegara Regency, held at Pagak Village, Banjarnegara Regency, Central Java, on Wednesday (3/1/2024), Jokowi emphasized the tangible outcomes of the government’s commitment to balanced development, especially in rural areas. He highlighted the extensive reach of rural roads, emphasizing their length exceeding toll road constructions, which only total 2040 kilometers.
Jokowi substantiates the promise of equitable development with concrete evidence, attributing a significant role to the disbursed village funds that contribute to the construction of these rural roads.
He points out that the village road network covers an impressive 350,000 kilometers, a reflection of the vast number of villages, totaling 74,800, scattered throughout the country. Calculating a conservative estimate of 5 kilometers per village, the cumulative length reaches the aforementioned substantial figure.
Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reveals the remarkable progress in road construction during the nine-year span of Joko Widodo’s administration (2014-2020). The road network has expanded by 30,613 kilometers, constituting 5.91% of the initial 517,713 kilometers in 2014, culminating in a total length of 548,366 kilometers in 2020.
Breaking down the figures, the extension of national roads accounts for 592 kilometers, increasing from 46,432 kilometers in 2014 to 47,024 kilometers in 2020. Meanwhile, provincial roads witnessed a growth of 1,317 kilometers, reaching a total length of 54,845 kilometers in 2020 from the baseline of 53,528 kilometers in 2014. District and city roads also experienced a notable expansion, adding 28,794 kilometers.
The development of toll roads, a crucial component of the nation’s infrastructure, has been consistently progressing. From 2015 to 2019, the operational toll road length reached 1,298 kilometers. Subsequent years continued this trend, with an additional 246 kilometers in 2020, 122 kilometers in 2021, and 142.11 kilometers in 2022.
As of 2022, nearly 2,600 kilometers of toll roads are accessible to the public, with the government aiming to extend this by an additional 1,000 kilometers by 2024.
President Jokowi also shed light on the substantial amount of village funds disbursed, totaling Rp 539 trillion since 2015. He emphasized that this figure is substantial when compared to the budgets allocated for various other development projects.
Notably, Jokowi drew attention to specific infrastructure projects such as airport and dam construction, which, despite their critical importance, receive budgets considerably smaller than the village funds.
Looking ahead, President Jokowi expresses optimism that the future utilization and management of village funds will continue to bring significant benefits to communities across the nation. The commitment to rural development remains a cornerstone of the government’s strategy, ensuring that no community is left behind in the journey towards progress.”
