Following the Argo Bromo Anggrek train accident with the KRL, Bekasi flyover construction must be prioritised
Following the Argo Bromo Anggrek train accident with the KRL Commuter Line bound for Cikarang on 27 April 2026, a member of the DPR RI’s Commission V, Sudjatmiko of the PKB faction, expressed full support for accelerating the construction of a flyover and the separation of crossings in the Bekasi Station and Bekasi Timur area.
Sudjatmiko said the incident was a stark wake-up call for the central and regional governments, PT KAI and all stakeholders to promptly resolve the level crossing problems that have long been a hotspot for accidents in the Bekasi region.
“The spate of accidents, which began with a Green Taxi incident at a level crossing and culminated in the collision between the Argo Bromo Anggrek train on the Gambir–Surabaya Pasar Turi route and a KRL bound for Cikarang, shows that Bekasi requires a more modern and safer transport system. The construction of a flyover cannot be delayed any longer,” he said during a working visit by Commission V to Bekasi Timur Station on Saturday 23 May.
Based on chronology compiled from various media reports and official statements, the accident started when a taxi vehicle experienced an incident on the crossing near Bekasi Timur, disrupting the operation of the commuter train. In the disrupted conditions, the KRL halted and was subsequently struck from behind by the Argo Bromo Anggrek train on the Gambir–Surabaya Pasar Turi route.
Recent data indicate the incident left 16 people dead and dozens injured, and paralysed Bekasi–Cikarang train services during the evacuation.
Sudjatmiko assessed that road traffic density and the high frequency of train movements on the Bekasi corridor make level crossings a serious public-safety risk. He said the Commission V will push for budgetary support and policy oversight so that flyovers or underpasses at critical points can be prioritised in the national transport programme.
‘We must not wait for the next casualty. Bekasi is one of the busiest transport hubs in Jabodetabek. Safety infrastructure must be the country’s top priority,’ he asserted.
He also called for a thorough evaluation of signalling systems, the coordination of crossing protections, and the accelerated elimination of level crossings in line with national transport-safety directives.
Additionally, Sudjatmiko praised the swift response of Basarnas, BPBD, the police, health workers, and PT KAI staff who evacuated casualties quickly under difficult conditions.
Commission V will regard the Bekasi tragedy as a national moment to review transport safety, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Jabodetabek.
‘Modern transport is about more than speed; it is about saving lives. The state must ensure that tragedies like this do not recur,’ Sudjatmiko concluded.
Today, Monday 4 May, police are expected to summon officials from several agencies, including the Green taxi company, regarding the Bekasi Timur Station rail accident.
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