C. Kalimantan reopens Mentaya River barge route

Barges carrying mining and plantation output along the Mentaya River in Central Kalimantan are now allowed to pass through under the Bajarum Bridge after the provincial authority reopened the route on Sunday following a more than one month suspension, reports said on Monday.

Central Kalimantan Governor Agustin Teras Narang, however, was quoted as warning the barges to strictly follow the safety requirements set by the local authority as construction work of the aging bridge, which collapsed on December 21 after being hit by a barge carrying iron ores, are still in progress.

The river route will only be opened from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m., according to Kompas. Barges must be accompanied with a tug boat and two scout vessels, each with a capacity of 500 PK, when passing under the bridge at a maximum speed of 4 knots.

Failure to adhere to the safety requirements, may risk sanction in the form suspension of the barge permit. (*)