Inauguration by President Prabowo, this is the reason for changing the name of Pandansimo to Kabanaran

KabarJawa.com– President Prabowo Subiyanto inaugurated the Kabanaran Bridge on the border of Bantul and Kulon Progo Regencies, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Wednesday (19/11/2025).

The inauguration ceremony marked the start of the utilization of four large infrastructure worth IDR 1.97 trillion in four provinces, namely the Kabanaran bridge, the Sambas Besar bridge in West Kalimantan, the Magelang flyover and the Solo underpass.

Change of name from Pandansimo to Kabanaran

Since the beginning of the project, local people have known the building as the Pandansimo Bridge because of its location close to Pandansimo Beach.

However, this identity changed when the government decided on the name Kabanaran Bridge, referring to the Kabanaran area which holds a historical track record of the struggle.

Kabanaran Bridge stands tall at the mouth of the Progo River, connecting two main districts on the south coast: Bantul and Kulon Progo.

The bridge is not just a new mobility route, but also a symbol of hope for strengthening connectivity in the rapidly developing southern region of DIY.

The Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Doddy Hanggodo, explained the reasons for choosing the Kabanaran Bridge as the central location for the inauguration of three other projects in four provinces.

He emphasized that the area holds important historical value. During the struggle, the village around the bridge was Prince Mangkubumi’s headquarters when he started his attack against the Dutch VOC. That is where the spirit of resistance and solidarity of the people emerged.

“We chose this bridge because this area has a great history. This location was the former headquarters of Prince Mangkubumi’s struggle against the Dutch. We want to revive the values ​​of heroism and togetherness of this place, like the struggle he started on December 11, 1749. That spirit is what we are realizing in the construction of this infrastructure,” said Doddy.

With a strong historical background, the government wants to present development that is not only functional, but also revives the national narrative.

Will Change Tourism Access to the South Java Economy

In his remarks, President Prabowo emphasized the importance of the bridge for community access and development of the southern region of Yogyakarta which is known to be rich in culture and spirituality.

“This place is the location of Prince Mangkubumi’s struggle. I am standing here because this bridge will facilitate connectivity, facilitate access to beautiful and important areas in Javanese culture. We will encourage this area to support tourism,” said the President.

Prabowo also said that the government was preparing to develop economic and tourism areas around the bridge.

The plan includes building hotels, tourism support facilities, and integrating transportation access.

“Tourism is a large foreign exchange contributor and a very significant absorber of labor. This year our tourism increased by 20 percent. That is an important achievement for the national economy. So we must continue to encourage this sector to grow,” he continued.

The President then appreciated all parties who contributed to the construction of the bridge. He advised the local government and the community to maintain the sustainability of the bridge’s function and maintain it well.

The presence of the Kabanaran Bridge opens up great opportunities for the people of Bantul and Kulon Progo.

Residents now have a new route that speeds up tourist mobility, facilitates trade and shortens travel time to a number of destinations.

For local business actors, the bridge is a lifeblood that expands business networks, especially in the fisheries, MSME and tourism sectors. (ef linangkung)