Midnight in Kalimalang: Burgeract Generation Patches Roads to Save Lebaran Travellers' Lives

In Bekasi, the youth community known as Generasi Burgeract has taken the initiative to independently repair a road at one of the most risky damage points, specifically on the Kalimalang road section before the Bekasi Timur Toll Gate. Geraldi Weimy (24), a member of Gen Burgeract, said the action stemmed from public reports via social media. According to him, road damage is scattered across several locations along Kalimalang. However, limitations in equipment and traffic conditions prevented them from repairing all the damage. “Because the road is two-way and many trucks pass through, we didn’t dare take the risk of repairing everything,” he said. Weimy assessed that Kalimalang serves as an important alternative route for holiday travellers besides the Pantura route, so unworthy road conditions could increase accident risks, especially when vehicle volumes rise significantly. From several damage points, Gen Burgeract decided to focus on repairing one long pothole deemed the most dangerous for road users. The pothole spans up to 10 metres. To fill it, they used eight sacks of asphalt. “Eight sacks are actually still insufficient. But we maximised it so it’s not too dangerous,” Weimy said. The asphalt material used partly came from support by private parties who learned of their action through social media. The price of one sack of asphalt is Rp 230,000–Rp 240,000. Meanwhile, safety equipment such as vests, helmets, boots, and traffic control tools were obtained from community member contributions and public donations. “We bought the equipment with personal money and collections,” he revealed. To avoid congestion and disruptions to holiday travellers, the repairs were carried out from night until early morning.