Funding cuts stall bridge and road projects in West Manggarai

Nangka — West Manggarai officials said on October 22, 2026, that funding reductions had stalled construction of the Wae Impor Bridge and left the Hita–Bari road unfinished in the regency.

Why it matters: Travellers and residents travelling inland from Labuan Bajo may encounter an unfinished Hita–Bari road, while the Wae Impor Bridge remains incomplete until the reported 2027 continuation.

The Wae Impor Bridge project, linking Kuwus and West Kuwus, stopped after work began in September 2025. The Hita–Bari hot-mix road, linking Pacar and Macang Pacar, currently ends at Nangka village in Rokap, about seven kilometres from Bari, according to Floresa.

Acting West Manggarai regional secretary Pius Baut said cuts to central-government transfers had constrained development because about 60–70% of the regional budget still came from central funds. The regency’s transfer allocation fell from Rp1.076 trillion in 2025 to Rp839.87 billion in 2026, Floresa reported.

Floresa reported that the bridge contract was valued at Rp1.499 billion under the 2025 regional budget. The road project was initially budgeted at Rp14 billion but received Rp7 billion in realised funding.

Local government officials said the Wae Impor Bridge would be continued in 2027. The funding reduction also forms part of a broader decline in West Manggarai’s planned transfer revenue: an official district release said the 2026 revised figure was Rp785.13 billion, down Rp70.66 billion from the original budget.

Sources

• Floresa.co
• West Manggarai Regency Government