Bandung Mayor Halts All Bus Rapid Transit Construction Permits

Bandung — Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan has halted all permits for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project after discovering numerous quality issues with infrastructure work in the field.

Farhan assessed that the work on the public transport project has not yet demonstrated standards appropriate for a major project.

“The BRT work quality is very poor. There are no signs that this is a national strategic project. The office of investment and licensing will suspend permits until they can complete the work,” said Farhan in Bandung on Monday.

He identified five locations of concern due to inadequate construction quality: Jalan Ir. H. Juanda (Dago), Jalan Merdeka, Jalan R.E. Martadinata (Riau) in front of Taman Pramuka Bandung, and two sites in the Dago area—near Dago 101 and in front of the Bandung City Health Laboratory.

“Yet the BRT project is classified as a National Strategic Project (PSN) which should have good construction quality,” he stated.

According to Farhan, work at these five locations must be completed first before any further work can continue.

“I have decided that all BRT construction permits are frozen until they can rectify the work at these five sites,” he said.

Farhan also emphasised that the city government will not permit any new work, whether for corridor development or work outside the BRT corridor, until comprehensive improvements are made.

“As of today, my inspection results show that the Bandung City Government rejects the BRT given the quality of work like this,” he said.

Farhan expressed hope that contractors and related parties would quickly undertake repairs so that the infrastructure work quality meets national strategic project standards and can provide maximum benefit to Bandung residents in the long term.