The Indonesian army has been given six months to complete the construction of 14 roads stretching more than 900 kilometres in Papua and West Papua.
The Jakarta Post reports that they are taking part in projects overseen by the Papua and West Papua Development Acceleration Unit.
A spokesperson for the unit, Amiruddin Al Rahab, says the military's involvement is aimed at ensuring stronger construction and speeding up the building at a lower cost.
He says if all the projects were to be carried out by the private sector, they would take a long time to complete as they first have to go through a bidding process.
The chairman of the Papua Indigenous Entrepreneurs Chamber, John Haluk, has objected to the army's involvement, saying Papuan contractors are capable of doing the work and the Chamber was ready to help them.
