Banten Government Accelerates Cirarab River Normalisation, Riverbank Homes to be Regulated

The Banten Provincial Government aims to complete the normalisation of the Cirarab River by the end of March 2026. It is stated that personnel will widen and dredge the river along a stretch of nearly five kilometres to anticipate flooding.

“Yesterday, during a coordination meeting at BBWSCC (Ciliwung Cisadane River Basin Authority), we targeted completion by the end of March. Currently, the rainfall is starting to subside, so it could be completed sooner,” said the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Department (PUPR) of Banten Province, Arlan Marzan, on Tuesday (24 February 2026).

According to Arlan, the normalisation of Cirarab is a follow-up to the coordination meeting held on 26 January 2026. The meeting was attended by the Banten Provincial Government, the Tangerang City Government, the Tangerang Regency Government, and the BBWSCC. On 3 February, roles and locations for the normalisation work were assigned.

“In total, the normalisation segments are: 700 metres for the province, 550 metres for Tangerang City, 1.2 kilometres for BBWSCC, and then 700 metres plus 1.7 kilometres for Tangerang Regency, making a total of 2.4 kilometres. So, in total, it’s almost 5 kilometres,” said Arlan.

Meanwhile, approximately 700 metres of the riverbank requires the relocation of residential houses. Arlan stated that the Tangerang Regency Government has already conducted socialisation regarding the relocation to the affected residents.

“But yesterday, together with the residents, it was thankfully conducive, and the regent directly conducted the socialisation. It will begin after Eid,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Banten, Andra Soni, mentioned some time ago that areas along the Cirarab River had experienced flooding. He stated that flood management cannot be handled by a single agency alone.

“The river is actually a national asset and is the responsibility of all of us. Although administratively it is under the authority of the Balai (BBWSCC), given the current conditions, we must support the Balai so that the impact is positive for the people of Banten,” he said.

(aik/wnv)