107 National Roads Affected by Sumatra Disaster Now Functional: Ministry of Public Works

JAKARTA - All national road networks that were cut off due to natural disasters in the Sumatra region have now recovered and are functional, confirmed the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR). Minister Dody Hanggodo stated in Jakarta that 107 national roads affected by the Sumatra disaster have all returned to operation. The handling of connectivity infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, is carried out collaboratively in accordance with the division of authority between the central government and local governments. Data from the PUPR Ministry's Disaster Response System (Sitaba) as of July 21, 2026, indicates that all 107 affected national roads have resumed function. Furthermore, all 43 affected national bridges have also been completed and are back in normal operation, bringing the recovery progress of connectivity infrastructure under the central government's authority to 100 percent. Progress in Handling National Roads and Bridges Reaches 100% Meanwhile, for infrastructure under the authority of local governments, recovery continues to show a positive trend. According to Sitaba data on the same date, 2,291 out of 2,421 affected regional road sections have been successfully restored, and 821 out of 1,184 affected regional bridges have returned to service. Update on Handling of Regional Authority Lines Next Phase: Permanent Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Minister Hanggodo emphasized that while emergency functional recovery is complete, it is not the end of the work. The PUPR Ministry is now preparing to move to the permanent rehabilitation and reconstruction stage to strengthen infrastructure resilience against potential future disasters. Efforts to improve quality include: Structural Reinforcement: Permanent repair of road and bridge structures. Drainage System: Capacity improvement and repair of water channels. Slope Security: Slope stabilization and construction of landslide protection buildings. Carrying the Build Back Better Concept (2026-2028) The PUPR Ministry will continue to accelerate the post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction process in three main areas—Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces—under the 'Build Back Better' concept, aiming for safer, more resilient, and disaster-resistant infrastructure. Currently, some activities have entered the implementation phase of rehabilitation and reconstruction, while other works are still in the preparation phase, including the completion of technical documents, procurement, and contractual processes, concluded Dody.