Left Untreated for Three Years, Residents Complain About Pothole-Ridden Arif Rahman Hakim Street in Depok

DEPOK, KOMPAS.COM – Residents on Arif Rahman Hakim Street, Depok, are complaining about a bumpy road crowded with potholes. The damaged section runs on the road from Pasar Kemiri Muka towards Margonda Raya, extending about 10–12 metres. With a width of roughly 4–5 metres, the asphalt surface is uneven and riddled with holes, some of which have been filled with rubble from roofing tiles and broken ceramic tiles by residents. Motorcyclists passing through must slow down and weave to avoid the holes and standing water which could endanger safety. In some cases, riders even dismount and push their bikes through the damaged stretch near the curb. Large vehicles like public transport minibuses and trucks also travel cautiously to minimise jarring from the potholes.

One vendor, Heru, 52, says the road damage has been present for about three years; he estimates it began around the time he started selling in 2021. “Two years already this long; it was repaired but only lasted 3–4 months because they just patched it,” he said. Residents have, in the meantime, repeatedly filled the most serious holes to stop riders from falling.

Another resident, Toto, says the deteriorated road is dangerous, especially for motorcyclists, as some holes are quite deep. They hope the government will implement a permanent repair soon, noting the road is busy, particularly for people commuting from the station or market. “We hope for repairs because this road is busy, especially when trucks from Sumatra bring cargo for the market,” he added.