Bekasi Regency speeds up repairs on mudik routes

Bekasi Regency, West Java (ANTARA) – The Bekasi Regency government in West Java is accelerating repairs on a number of road segments, especially along mudik routes, to ensure safety and comfort for motorists during the Idul Fitri 1447 Hijriah exodus. ‘I have instructed the Bina Marga to speed up treatment of damaged roads, especially mudik routes that are riddled with potholes or other damage,’ said Acting Regent Asep Surya Atmaja in Cikarang on Thursday. He said road repairs have become the regional government’s priority ahead of Lebaran because vehicle volumes are certain to rise as people undertake mudik to various destinations. ‘The target is to have everything completed before the exodus begins. In fact, if possible, before the end of next week it should be finished,’ he said. Asep admitted that there are relatively many points of road damage based on identifications across several priority sections to prevent disruption to traffic flow during the mudik period up to the Lebaran balik (return) period ahead. ‘As many as 37 pothole locations on mudik routes in Bekasi Regency were identified according to data from the Bekasi Regency Traffic and Road Transport Forum. This does not include damages found on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road (Jalan Tol Jakarta-Cikampek). ’There are many points, especially potholes. All of them must be repaired so that travellers pass more safely. Some sections are national and provincial roads, so coordination is required. We have proposed repairs spanning around 33 kilometres,’ he said. The Bekasi Regency government has also allocated special funding for road infrastructure handling on mudik routes through a budget-shift scheme, albeit only temporary repairs via patching works. ‘For the temporary budget shifts we will patch things up first, around Rp1 to Rp2 billion because this is a rapid response,’ Asep said. Head of the Department of Water Resources, Public Works and Construction of Bekasi Regency, Henri Lincoln, said the budget shift has been approved and the physical works have begun following an official decision from the Regional Government Budget Committee (TAPD). ‘Several repair points have been adjusted because the on-ground damage locations differ from the initial plan for the fiscal year. On the Pantura Route, the handling is temporary given that authority lies with the central government. The same applies to Jalan Ma’mun Nawawi, which is under provincial authority,’ he said. In addition to these two routes, repairs are also being carried out on supporting routes such as Jalan Pilar-Sukatani and the Tambun Selatan area connected to the national road and Kalimalang. This step is hoped to support the smooth flow of mudik traffic in Bekasi Regency. ‘Our priority focus is on Jalan Kalimalang, which falls under local government and the National Road from the Bekasi city boundary to Karawang. Repairs on the two crucial mudik routes are being accelerated so that mudik travellers can pass through with a target completion by H-10 Lebaran,’ he said.