TABANAN, BALI – After waiting for six decades, residents of Sangketan Village in Penebel, Tabanan Regency, are finally seeing their dream of an interconnected road system come to life. The newly opened 1.26-kilometer road, measuring 5 meters in width, directly bridges two previously disconnected communities: Banjar Dinas Munduk Dawuh and Banjar Adat Puring.
Chairman of the Bali Democratic Party Regional Executive Board, I Made Mudarta, highlighted the historic nature of the project. He credited the breakthrough to the generosity of local landowners who voluntarily donated portions of their property for public use, alongside voluntary contributions from party members across Bali.
"For nearly 60 years, residents here have longed for this access road. Today, heavy equipment is officially on-site clearing the path. Once completed, this road will significantly improve local access to public services, schools, and healthcare facilities, while streamlining the distribution of agricultural produce such as cocoa, coconut, banana, and snake fruit," Mudarta stated during a site visit.
The self-funded project, estimated to take one month to complete, relies entirely on community fundraising without utilizing state or regional budgets (APBD/APBN). Work involves initial land clearing, limestone layering, compaction, and final asphalt surfacing.
Village Gratitude and Regional Infrastructure Concerns
The Head of Sangketan Village (Perbekel), I Nyoman Sugiarta, expressed deep appreciation to the local landowners and project coordinator Made Sukawijaya for initiating the vital connection.
However, Sugiarta also drew attention to broader infrastructure challenges facing the region, specifically pointing out severely damaged regency-owned roads—such as the route connecting Tegal Bingin to the Tambowaras and Pucak Sari Temples—which have suffered from long-standing delays despite repeated submissions in regional development planning forums (Musrenbang).
"We consistently submit these crucial road repairs through official development planning channels, yet progress remains stalled. We hope this community effort serves as a catalyst for broader infrastructure support across Tabanan," Sugiarta added.
The completion of this independent road initiative is expected to lower agricultural logistics costs and bolster economic mobility for residents across Penebel.
