Commission V of the DPR: Community-Managed Railway Gates Pose High Risk

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of Commission V of the DPR, Ridwan Bae, has warned that the practice of using manual railway level crossing gates operated by the community and not in an official capacity carries a high risk.

“Therefore, railway level crossing gates managed by the community need to be upgraded to a more modern system. In addition, the construction of flyovers or underpasses in areas with high traffic also needs to be accelerated to minimise the potential for accidents,” said Ridwan in Jakarta on Tuesday.

This statement responds to the train accident at Bekasi Timur Station, West Java, on Monday (27/4), with the death toll reaching 15 people by Tuesday (28/4) afternoon due to the incident.

According to him, following the event, there is a need for an evaluation of level crossings, particularly regarding the use of automatic gates and the involvement of official personnel.

In addition, he also encouraged a thorough evaluation of the signalling system and operational communication, which should be able to prevent collisions by providing real-time information to train drivers and station personnel.

The time gap between the initial incident and the subsequent collision indicates the need for further investigation, both in terms of potential human error and the reliability of technology.

For this reason, he urged a comprehensive evaluation and transparent investigation to restore public confidence and ensure safety as the top priority in rail transportation.

He also conveyed deep condolences and appreciated the government’s swift actions, including the visit by President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto to ensure handling of the victims.

He also supported PT KAI’s policy in covering the funeral costs for the deceased victims and the treatment costs for the injured.