Depok's Rp 9.7 Billion Sidewalk Collapses After Less Than a Year, Repairs to Cost Another Rp 1 Billion

A sidewalk on Jalan Raya Sawangan in Depok, West Java, built with a budget of Rp 9.7 billion, has collapsed after less than a year in use. The Depok City Government is now preparing to spend an additional Rp 1 billion from the Unexpected Expenditure (BTT) budget to repair the damage.

Yodi Joko Bintoro, Head of the Depok Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (DPUPR), explained that the sidewalk was part of the Kali Cabang Tengah riverbank improvement project. “The repair of the collapsed sidewalk is scheduled for August 2026 using BTT funds of more than Rp 1 billion,” he stated on Tuesday (4/8/2026). He noted that the collapse caused the embankment material to fall into the Kali Cabang Tengah stream, necessitating immediate action to prevent further disruption to the water channel.

Local residents expressed disbelief that the infrastructure failed so quickly. A resident named Hendra said he was shocked to learn the sidewalk had collapsed, initially mistaking it for an unfinished project. “This is a Rp 9.7 billion project, and it’s already collapsed. There must be something wrong,” he remarked, highlighting concerns over construction quality and budget oversight.

Depok Mayor Supian Suri confirmed that the repair work would commence in early August, using emergency funds as the damage was not covered under the original project budget. He apologised for any perception of a delayed response, explaining that the administration had to follow the necessary budgetary mechanisms for unexpected disasters.