KSAD Reports Completion of 300 Bridges and School Renovations to President Prabowo

Suara Pecari – 17 April 2026 | President Prabowo Subianto received KSAD General Maruli Simanjuntak at Istana Merdeka on 16 April 2026, where the army chief presented a progress report on infrastructure and post‑disaster recovery.

The report highlighted the completion of 300 pioneer suspension bridges across remote regions, a task accomplished within three months by the Indonesian Army in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works.

Simultaneously, the army reported that 300 schools damaged by recent natural disasters in Sumatra have been renovated and equipped with clean‑water boreholes.

The rapid deployment of bridges and school facilities aims to restore connectivity and education services for communities that were isolated after floods and landslides.

Secretary of the Cabinet, Teddy Indra Wijaya, confirmed the figures in an official statement and praised the joint effort of TNI‑AD and civil agencies.

“In the past quarter, the Army has finalized 300 pioneer bridges, strengthening basic infrastructure in the most inaccessible villages,” he said.

He added that the renovated schools now include reliable water supply, improving health conditions for students and staff.

The projects were financed through the national budget and additional allocations for disaster mitigation, reflecting the government’s priority to reach the outermost archipelagic areas.

Local authorities reported that the new bridges have reduced travel time between farms and markets by up to four hours, stimulating local economies.

Community leaders noted that restored schools have already resumed regular classes, allowing children to return to formal education after months of interruption.

The Army’s engineering corps employed modular construction techniques, enabling the rapid assembly of bridge components even in areas without road access.

Coordination with the Ministry of Public Works involved joint site surveys, shared logistics, and synchronized procurement of materials.

Experts say that such collaboration sets a precedent for future infrastructure initiatives that require swift mobilization of military resources.

The president expressed satisfaction with the progress and urged the armed forces to maintain the momentum in upcoming projects.

He also emphasized the importance of transparent monitoring to ensure that the facilities remain functional and serve their intended beneficiaries.

The successful completion of the bridge and school programs is expected to contribute to the national goal of reducing regional disparity by 2028.

Analysts note that the visible impact of military‑led development may strengthen public perception of the armed forces as a national development partner.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to extend similar construction efforts to other disaster‑prone provinces in the coming months.