Indonesian Army Chief announces bridge projects in West Java

Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak has announced plans to construct bridges and provide clean water access for communities in the Garut and Tasikmalaya regencies of West Java. This initiative is part of a presidential program aimed at improving infrastructure in remote areas, including planned projects in Papua. Data collection for these projects is underway, with construction expected to begin as early as September and reach completion by early October 2026.

This announcement follows an incident involving the Garuda Suspension Bridge in Pangandaran, West Java. General Simanjuntak issued a formal apology and accepted responsibility for the failure of the bridge's sling system during its inauguration. An investigation revealed technical issues, including broken anchor blocks and imprecise configurations, which were exacerbated by an overload of approximately 50 people on the structure at the time. The Army has committed to a total structural repair and refinement of the bridge before it is reopened to the public.