Indonesia plans railway flood task force ahead of Eid travel rush

“Our plan is to work with colleagues at the railway service to establish a task force. Hopefully, no more railways will be disrupted by accumulating rainwater or flooding,” Hanggodo said in Semarang, Central Java, on Sunday.

The minister explained that he had been inspecting land transport facilities and infrastructure to ensure readiness ahead of the Eid al-Fitr homecoming season, when millions of Indonesians travel across the country.

His inspections included railway tracks, with a focus on preventing damage or delays caused by heavy rainfall.

He pointed to recent flooding incidents in Pekalongan and Grobogan districts as examples of the risks posed by seasonal downpours.

“Such an approach is crucial because railway services have been one of the primary means of transport, especially for citizens heading to Java regions and Jakarta during homecoming,” he said.

Hanggodo emphasized the importance of cross-institutional cooperation, noting that he would send a formal letter to Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi to strengthen coordination on flood mitigation.

“The Ministry of Public Works requires cooperation with the Transportation Ministry in addressing this challenge,” he affirmed.

His remarks came after flooding on February 17 submerged tracks connecting Pekalongan and Sragi stations to a depth of 10 centimeters, forcing PT KAI to cancel several services from Semarang.

Company spokesperson Luqman Arif later reported that trains could resume passage, though only at a maximum speed of 10 kilometers per hour.

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Translator: Suharsana A, Tegar Nurfitra