Ministry of Public Works Prepares 1,461 Heavy Equipment Units for Damaged Roads

The Ministry of Public Works (Ministry of PU) has mobilised 1,461 units of emergency response equipment, or Disaster Relief Units (DRU), across various regions of Indonesia. This equipment is prepared to accelerate handling in the event of road infrastructure disruptions, such as road damage, landslides, and floods that could potentially hinder public travel during the Eid homecoming period.

Minister of PU Dody Hanggodo stated that the readiness of equipment and materials is a crucial factor in maintaining national road connectivity, especially when public mobility increases sharply.

“The Ministry of PU has prepared various emergency response equipment and materials across all regions of Indonesia to ensure a rapid response if road infrastructure disruptions occur during the Eid homecoming and return flow period,” said Dody, quoted from a written statement on Saturday, 21 March 2026.

The 1,461 DRU units are distributed to six main regions, namely Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, as well as the Nusa Tenggara and Maluku islands. The placement of the equipment is adjusted to the characteristics of the regions and potential disaster risks in each national road corridor.

Java Island, as the region with the highest traffic, receives the largest allocation of 428 DRU units. Meanwhile, 244 units are prepared in Sumatra, 233 in Kalimantan, 196 in Sulawesi, 141 in Papua, and 219 units in the Nusa Tenggara and Maluku islands region.

In addition to heavy equipment, Dody said the Ministry of PU has also prepared various supporting materials, such as Bailey bridges, sandbags, gabions, asphalt, and geotextiles. All these supplies are placed at strategic points so they can be immediately used when disruptions occur in the field.

Dody added that this preparedness applies throughout the Eid homecoming and return flow period, namely from 11 March to 1 April 2026.