The development of the transportation system is designed to support the development of the economy, the national stability and inter-regional equality as well as distribution to realize the Indonesian Archipelagic Outlook.

In Repelita VI, the Government developed a national transportation system with special attention to undeveloped areas, mainly in eastern Indonesia, improved town transportation that supports industry, agriculture, trade and tourism and increased the quality of transportation means and infrastructures, the community's role, human resources and technology.

To achieve those targets, transportation is developed through eight (8) programs, comprise five (5) main programs and three (3) supporting programs.

The main programs cover the development of the national transportation system, the construction of roads and bridges and improvement of land, sea and air transportation.

The supporting programs cover the development of meteorology and geophysics, improvement of search and rescue, the promotion of education and training and development of transportation resources.

The national transportation system in the fourth year of Repelita VI developed several strategic concepts and basic policies on the transportation system, in accordance with national space planning aimed at supporting economic development.

Besides, the Government conducted various studies and researches to help the concept of the national transportation system.

During four years of Repelita VI, the road network was rehabilitated.

The construction of new roads and bridges was directed towards opening remote areas, developing urban, transmigration and production areas and supporting the development of strategic locations.

In 1997/98, the Government rehabilitated 33,482 km of roads and 8,636 meters of bridges. If compared with those in 1996/97, it showed and increase of 3.3% and 8.7% respectively.

The improvement of strategic roads and reconstruction of artery and collateral roods, and bridges was to support the development of fast growing regions and industrial development centers, serve container transportation and port access.

In 1997/98, 5,540 km of artery and access roads were improved and 16,184 meters of bridges reconstructed. Meanwhile, 9,794 km of local roads were improved and 21,595 meters of local bridges reconstructed. If compared with those in 1996/97, where 5,773 km of artery and accers roads were improved there was a decline of four (4) percent. Meanwhile 15.222 meters of arteries and access bridges were improved showing a rise of 6.3%. The construction of roads and bridges is aimed at opening remote areas, not accessible by road transportation.

In 1997/98, the Government constructed 1,221 km of artery and collateral roads and 4,790 meters of bridges. Meanwhile, the Government constructed 42 km of toll roads. If compared with 1996/97, the construction of artery and access roads decreased by 34%, while toll roads rose to 83%.

In 1997/98, 62,932 km artery and access roads were kept in good condition or an increase of 6.6% or compared with that in 1996/97 with only 59,020 km. Meanwhile 3,668 km of unstable roads in 1997/98, was 51,6% less if compared to that of 1996/97 with 7,580 km. Of 66,600 km of artery and collateral roads in 1997/98, 94.5% was in good condition.

Expansion of the road network and their improvement promoted other development activities leading to the people's welfare, before the monetary crisis, serving 13.7 million vehicles in the first year of Repelita VI and rose to 17.7 million by the fourth year.

In the first year of Repelita VI, 121.7 million passengers and 16.7 million tons of freight were transported. It grew to 158,7 million passengers and 19.1 million tons of freight in the fourth year of Repelita. The number of passenger transported by river, lake and ferry also rose from 63 million passengers in the first year to 82.2 million passengers in the fourth year of Repelita VI.

Meanwhile, 28.6 million tons of freight were transported in the first year of Repelita VI rising to 32.5 million tons in the fourth year.

At the end of Repelita V, 13.0 million vehicles served road transportation and grew to 17.7 million vehicles by the fourth year.

Within the limits of the state budget, the development of road facilities in 1997/98 was to give priority to certain regions, where accidents could easily happen by supplying and installing 6,833 road signs, 38 traffic lights, 392,570 meters of surface signs and 51,260 meters of safety fences and continue the construction of an Automatic Traffic Control System (ATCS) in Bandung.