MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM ~ Governor North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, emphasized that strategic urban planning directly impacts tourism, investment, and regional competitiveness. He made the remarks following the 2026 Coordination Meeting between central and regional governments.
Governor Bobby explained that the urban planning initiative is a direct instruction from President Prabowo Subianto. The directive aligns with North Sumatra's provincial government efforts to enhance the Medan Raya metropolitan area, which includes Medan, Binjai, and Deli Serdang.
"President Prabowo has issued these instructions five times. This is especially significant as Medan Raya has been selected as a pilot region for Danantara's Waste-to-Energy program," Bobby stated during the Regional Action Plans for Urban and Tourism Areas event on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the Raja Inal Siregar Hall in Medan.
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Governor Bobby highlighted seven major urban issues requiring urgent attention: waste management, slum areas, illegal land reclamation, chaotic cables and street lighting, sidewalk design, billboard regulation, and drainage systems.
He stressed the importance of strict regulations and cross-sector coordination. For projects constrained by limited budgets, he suggested leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to implement initiatives such as street lighting and waste management.
"Billboard regulations must be enforced so they do not accumulate in one location. Communication and electricity cables are chaotic and require coordination. If the budget is tight, PPP can be utilized. We are also prepared to provide financial support if needed," Nasution said.
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Governor Bobby also urged government officials, the military, and police forces to actively participate in maintaining city cleanliness, particularly in tourist areas. He sees cross-institutional cooperation as essential for the rapid implementation of urban planning across North Sumatra.
"This is a collective responsibility to remove waste from public areas. Regions with tourist destinations should develop their own strategies and, if necessary, establish dedicated administrative units," he added.
The event was attended by Vice Governor Surya, Acting Provincial Secretary Sulaiman Harahap, and members of North Sumatra's Regional Leadership Forum (Forkopimda). In total, 17 regional heads and representatives from public service offices (OPD) participated. (IDNC)
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