Road repairs drive economic recovery in three districts of Labuhanbatu
Residents of three districts in the Labuhanbatu Regency hope that the repairs to the Aek Nabara–Negeri Lama–Tanjung Sarang Elang road will be completed soon.
This infrastructure, which has been damaged for years, is expected to revitalize the local economy, boost tourism, and improve access to healthcare and recreation centers.
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Work is currently underway to repair the road connecting the districts of Bilah Hulu, Bilah Hilir, and Panai Hulu. This road is the community’s lifeline to Rantauprapat, the capital of the Labuhanbatu Regency, and was formerly a major route for road users from Tanjungbalai to Aek Nabara via the Sei Berombang border crossing.
Murni, a food stall owner in Tanjung Sarang Elang, said that the damaged road has drastically reduced traffic flow over the years. This has also negatively impacted the community’s economic activity.
“Previously, about 10 to 15 years ago, when the road was in better condition, many people passed through here. People from Tanjungbalai took speedboats to Sei Berombang because the main road was too far away. But now that the road is so damaged, many choose the main road,” said Murni.
According to her, improved road conditions will create new business opportunities for the community, as mobility and the distribution of goods will run more smoothly.
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In addition to serving as a connecting route between districts, the area around Tanjung Sarang Elang also offers various waterfront tourist destinations, such as Two Islands Tourism, swimming pools, Sikantan Island, and other seaside attractions. However, the damaged road has led to a persistent decline in the number of tourists.
“It used to be very popular, but the worse the road gets, the fewer people come; some businesses have even closed. That is why we are asking for the road to our village to be repaired quickly so that our economy here can improve,” she said.
The damaged road not only affects the economy and the tourism sector, but also makes it difficult for residents to access healthcare. Resident Amodi Dumoli Tua Sihite of Aek Nabara shared that he once lost a neighbor who died on the way to the hospital due to the poor condition of the road.
“That is it. My neighbor died on the way because he couldn’t get there quickly due to the damaged road. It was God’s will, but it is unfortunate that people are treated too late because of the bad road. We really hope that this road will be finished soon,” said Amodi.
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Currently, the provincial government of North Sumatra (Pemprov), led by Governor Bobby Nasution and Vice-Governor Surya, is working on repairing the 10-kilometer sections of the Aek Nabara (Bilah Hulu)–Neger Lama (Bilah Hilir) and Negeri Lama–Tanjung Sarang Elang (Panai Hulu) roads. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
Henri Syahrizal, Head of the Roads and Bridges Department of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) Rantauprapat of the Public Works Agency of North Sumatra Province (BMCK), stated that the works have been divided into two packages: three kilometers on the Aek Nabara–Negeri Lama route and seven kilometers on the Negeri Lama–Panai Hulu route.
“The goal is to complete 3 kilometers of the first package (Aek Nabara–Negeri Lama) and 7 kilometers of the second package (Negeri Lama–Panai Hulu) by the end of this year. We apologize for any inconvenience to road users,” said Henri Syahrizal.
The road improvements are expected to restore the role of this route as a major traffic artery, accelerate the distribution of agricultural and plantation products, revitalize the tourism sector, and improve access to education and healthcare. With improved infrastructure, economic growth in the three sub-districts is expected to pick up and the well-being of the population to improve. ***rel
