President Prabowo Inaugurates 1,151 km of Roads to Boost Economy

RRI.CO.ID, Sampang - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated 1,151 kilometers of roads across 37 provinces on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, marking a strategic step to improve public mobility, strengthen product distribution, and boost regional economic growth.

The inauguration, centered on the Kedungdung–Bringkoning section in Larlar Village, Banyuates Subdistrict, Sampang Regency, East Java, is part of the implementation of the Presidential Instruction (Inpres) on Regional Roads (IJD).

Before the ceremony, President Prabowo received a presentation from Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo on the program’s achievements.

Minister Dody explained that the initiative follows Presidential Instruction No. 11/2025, which mandates accelerating the development of regional road connectivity to support food, energy, and water self‑sufficiency.

“Regional road development is designed to ensure a smooth food supply chain from upstream to downstream, directly connecting production centers to consumption markets more efficiently and sustainably,” Minister Dody said, as quoted on the State Secretariat’s official website.

The 2025 IJD program has successfully built and repaired 1,151 kilometers of roads in 37 provinces with IDR 5.41 trillion in funding. Dody emphasized that infrastructure development is now more evenly distributed and reaches areas long in need of connectivity.

“All of these achievements demonstrate the government’s strong commitment to developing infrastructure in a more inclusive, fair, and equitable manner that covers all corners of Indonesia,” he added.

President Prabowo expressed appreciation for the project's completion, stressing that regional roads play a vital role in driving community economic activity.

“I am proud to announce the completion of 1,151 kilometers of regional roads in all 37 provinces across Indonesia,” he said.

He underscored that roads are the lifeblood of the economy, connecting production, markets, distribution, and industrial areas.

“The presence of these regional roads is very important. They are the lifeblood of the people’s economy. Through these roads, farmers’ harvests, garden produce, fishery products, and community goods can move from villages to markets, distribution centers, and industrial areas, and vice versa,” the President said.

In Larlar Village, residents have already felt the benefits. Ahmad Fauzi recalled that the road was previously in poor condition and difficult to navigate.

“Even animals struggled to cross this road. But thank God, this program has greatly helped the community, especially residents of Batu Boro and Larlar Village,” he said.

Taufik shared a similar view, noting that road damage had long hindered mobility, particularly during the rainy season.

“Before this project, the road was in such poor condition that it was difficult for people to travel to the subdistrict or regency, especially during the rainy season. It was often impassable,” he said.

He added that after repairs, community activities became easier and agricultural products could reach markets more quickly.

“Thank God transportation is now smoother. Residents can move around more quickly, which stimulates the economy by facilitating the rapid movement of agricultural products to markets or districts,” Taufik said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rosyid assessed that the road construction has significantly impacted the local economy, particularly benefiting farmers who previously struggled to market their crops due to poor access.

According to residents, the new roads have improved transportation, widened market access, and created greater economic opportunities for village communities. ***