Modeling for a cause: S. Sumatra promises budget to fix roads after quirky pothole photos go viral

Photo: Instagram/@as_robby
Photo: Instagram/@as_robby

Several youngsters from Batumarta, in the Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency of South Sumatra, have figured out the quickest way to get their provincial government to do the job they’re supposed to: low key shaming them using the power of social media.

In a series of photos that have quickly gone viral, the youngsters of Batumarta used their quirky modeling and photography skills to highlight the long-ignored problem of potholes in their town, some of which are so large that they look like mud-filled ponds.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuSrPZMHs5c/

 

“This is my road, what about yours? We don’t know for sure when the roads along Batumarta in OKU Regency will be passable. From Batumarta intersection, Batumarta 1-2-3 to 16, the condition of the road really frustrates drivers. If there’s a part of the road that’s smoothed over, it’s only a small bit compared to the length of the road itself. It’s been 40 years since we transmigrated and we still can’t enjoy passable roads? Come on!” the photographer, Robby Ari Sanjaya, wrote in the caption above.

Another set of viral photos features a girl bathing in the mud of one particularly large pothole.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuTMo9aHNOm/

 

This set features the youngsters posing in comical situations in and around the potholes, such as falling into one from the back of a motorcycle, playing with rubber ducks and going on a date on the road.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuUseG1nY4B/

 

While it’s not known if the youngsters ever imagined their photos would actually make a difference, the South Sumatra provincial government has nonetheless reacted to the viral images by earmarking billions to fix roads, not only in Batumarta but also throughout the entire province.

Media reports suggest that the images attracted so much attention from people sharing them on Facebook that the South Sumatra Government decided to earmark Rp500 billion (around $35.7 million) to fix the province’s roads with work set to begin this year.

“We have prepared the budget for infrastructure repairs worth IDR500 billion (US$35.7 million), the fund will be used to repair roads in 17 regencies and cities in South Sumatra,” South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru told Detik today, adding that the road repairs would commence this year.

 

Well, hopefully that isn’t just lip service from the government and all of that money really will go towards building better and more durable roads in the region. Temporary patchworks would only create more potholes in the long run and you can bet the youngsters will return to take plenty more photos should that be the case.



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