Prabowo launches 3,395 bridges, 3,000 clean water sources

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2 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday inaugurated 3,395 bridges and 3,000 clean water facilities built nationwide by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri).

In a livestreamed speech from the State Palace in Jakarta, the president virtually presided over the simultaneous inauguration ceremony held in Bayah Barat Village, Lebak District, Banten.

On behalf of the government and the public, Prabowo extended appreciation to all TNI and Polri personnel involved in the nationwide development projects, with special recognition given to Polri Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak.

Under Simanjuntak’s leadership, the army has helped open clean water access points at more than 7,000 locations across Indonesia since 2020.

The president further praised the police and the military, describing the infrastructure projects as a testament to their commitment to improving people’s welfare nationwide. He admitted to being “very proud” and “deeply touched” by the achievement.

“Today, we prove that Indonesia truly is a unified nation. We are a nation that works hand in hand, capable of harnessing our own strengths to serve the prosperity and welfare of the people,” Prabowo said.

He emphasized that expanding basic infrastructure is essential to improving living standards throughout the archipelago.

Prabowo also stressed that efforts to attract investment for large-scale projects should not come at the expense of smaller but essential initiatives, such as bridge construction and clean water provision.

“We must keep in mind that the state must always be present for those most in need,” he said.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated earlier before the ceremony that 895 of the bridges were constructed by 30 regional police forces to improve connectivity in rural regions.

“The bridges are expected to facilitate mobility between villages, improve safety, and enhance access to schools, health facilities, houses of worship, and economic centers,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Spanning a combined length of 19.2 kilometers, the police-built bridges are expected to benefit around two million people in 1,314 villages across Indonesia.