Thebantenpost.com. Lebak, Banten — Residents of Kampung Nambo, Cikeusik Village, Wanasalam Subdistrict, Lebak Regency, have highlighted the severe damage to the Cikeusik–Nambo–Citawi road, which is strongly suspected to have been caused by heavy vehicles from the Pasirtuhur–Pajagan road construction project. The project is part of the Banten Provincial Government’s rural road program initiated by Banten Governor Andra Soni, known as the Bang Andra Program (Bangun Jalan Desa Sejahtera).
Nurdin, a resident of Kampung Nambo, stated that the community basically supports infrastructure development carried out by the government. However, the implementation of the project was not accompanied by proper planning for mobilization and impact mitigation, resulting in damage to other roads that serve as the main routes for residents’ daily activities.
“We do not oppose development. But the fact is, the Cikeusik–Nambo–Citawi road has been severely damaged due to the passage of project vehicles such as concrete mixer trucks. This shows weak planning and supervision,” Nurdin said on Saturday, January 3, 2025.
He explained that the damaged road is a vital access route not only for residents of Kampung Nambo, but also for people from nearby villages and hamlets such as Cilangkap, Warung Jogjog, Senanghati, and Pejeh. The road damage has had a direct impact on economic activities, education, and access to public services.
Ironically, according to Nurdin, the damaged road is currently being repaired through community self-help and mutual cooperation, rather than by the project contractor.
“The ones who caused the damage were the project activities, but the ones repairing it are the residents, using their own labor and money. For us, this is a form of neglect of responsibility and is deeply disrespectful,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of Mahasiswa Taktis Demokratis Wanasalam (MATADEWA) for the 2025–2026 period, Sarnata, emphasized that infrastructure damage caused by development projects must not be borne by the community.
“The executing contractor must take full responsibility. Repairs must not be partial or merely patchwork. The road must be rebuilt properly so that it is fit and safe for long-term use,” Sarnata said.
Sarnata also highlighted the project budget for Pasirtuhur–Pajagan, which according to circulating information amounts to around IDR 4 billion. With such a budget, he argued that technical aspects, including the load-bearing capacity of village roads and routes for heavy equipment mobilization, should have been professionally calculated.
Furthermore, he assessed that the implementation of the development program in Cikeusik Village has not been fully on target. The determination of construction points and project routes was deemed to have failed to consider the roads most frequently used by residents.
“Development programs should address the main needs of the people. If one road is built well while another vital village road is damaged, then this is not fair development. Those who determine the project locations and the implementers must be held accountable,” he concluded.
