Jakarta: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced the approval of a 300-million-U.S.-dollar loan aimed at constructing approximately 72 km of disaster-resilient roads along the southern coast of Java, Indonesia. This initiative is expected to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth in the southern regions of the island.

According to Nam News Network, the loan will facilitate a project to upgrade the existing narrow dirt road, which currently includes missing links and necessitates an eight-hour journey between agricultural areas in the Jember and Banyuwangi regencies of East Java Province. The development of these new roads aims to connect local communities to economic hubs and markets, thereby reducing travel time to about two hours and enhancing access to essential services, education, and economic opportunities.

The ADB highlighted that the project incorporates climate change adaptation measures. These include enhanced hydraulic structure capacity to mitigate flood risks, bioengineered s
lope protection using nature-based solutions, and the construction of climate-resilient bridges to ensure alternative access during extreme weather events.

The initiative is expected to boost the country’s competitiveness and fortify the resilience of its infrastructure. It seeks to balance economic development between Java’s well-connected north-central regions and the southern coast, where agricultural communities currently face limited road access to markets and services.

The project also emphasizes gender equality and the economic empowerment of women by allocating at least 10 percent of skilled construction jobs to women. Additionally, it will implement comprehensive road safety programs that address the specific needs of women, children, and people with disabilities, as noted by the bank.