Jakarta DPRD Urges Provincial Government to Replace Old Armco Pipes Before Road Subsidence Occurs
Bun Joi Phiau, a member of Commission D of the Jakarta DPRD, has highlighted the incident of a road subsidence that occurred in the Lenteng Agung area, South Jakarta. Based on field facts, the event was triggered by the erosion of an existing drainage culvert, approximately three metres in diameter, located directly beneath the road surface, which collapsed due to its inability to withstand the weight of passing vehicles.
Bun Joi Phiau explained that the drainage system utilises Armco construction—corrugated steel culverts installed decades ago—which has now experienced a drastic decline in quality. While supporting the tactical steps taken by the Jakarta Water Resources Agency (SDA) to immediately replace the structure with box culverts, he emphasised that the regional government must not merely be reactive.
“The replacement of Armco with box culverts in Lenteng Agung is technically the correct move, but it is insufficient if only performed reactively after an incident. Box culverts indeed possess a much sturdier and more durable structure. I support this step, but do not wait for a collapse before acting,” said Bun Joi Phiau when contacted on Wednesday (3/6/20226).
Bun Joi Phiau appreciated the Jakarta SDA Agency’s current efforts to map locations of drainage systems still using old Armco materials throughout the capital. However, he warned that this data must be executed seriously and not merely remain as a document on a desk. He urged that this mapping be supplemented with in-depth physical condition assessments and a priority scale for handling, based on the level of damage and the density of traffic above the pipes.
Furthermore, Bun Joi Phiau highlighted the classic obstacles faced by field officers, where inspections of culvert structures are often hindered by deep water flow and volume. To address this, he requested that the Jakarta Provincial Government begin adopting modern technology for maintenance systems.
“This must be addressed with technology, such as CCTV inspection drones or pipe crawling robots, so that the condition of underground channels can be monitored periodically before fatal damage occurs,” he explained.
He requested that crucial points located beneath main arterial roads or railway lines be made the top priority for emergency handling, without having to wait in line for regular programmes. “Replacing Armco with box culverts is the right step, but that is only half the answer. What is more important is building a proactive, rather than reactive, underground infrastructure maintenance system. We in the DPRD will continue to oversee this, from budget discussions in the Regional Budget (APBD) to monitoring implementation in the field,” concluded Bun Joi Phiau.