MP: In the Technology Era, It's Outrageous to Still Allow Illegal Railway Crossings!
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Mufti Anam, a member of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has urged that all level railway crossings managed illegally be permanently closed or converted into official ones supported by adequate digital systems.
This call comes in the wake of a fatal accident between a KRL Commuter Line and a long-distance train in Bekasi, West Java, which originated from an incident at a level crossing.
“In this era of all things technological, I think it is utterly outrageous to still allow these illegal crossing gates to exist. All crossings must be mapped and secured, either officially guarded or equipped with automatic barriers,” Mufti stated when contacted on Wednesday (28/4/2026).
“Illegal crossings must be permanently closed immediately or at least protected with digital systems such as sensors and warning alarms,” he added.
He assessed that in the current technological era, the existence of crossings without official security represents a serious negligence in transport safety governance.
The PDI-P politician also specifically criticised PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), which he deemed not yet optimal in prioritising safety aspects, despite receiving various forms of state support.
To date, Mufti continued, investments in the railway sector have been too focused on physical infrastructure development, such as tracks, stations, and train procurement.
This has not been balanced with strengthening technology-based safety systems.
“KAI has long enjoyed a very strong position, even tending towards monopolistic, in the rail transport sector. The state provides various facilities; state capital participation (PMN), Public Service Obligation (PSO) subsidies, strategic project assignments, to regulatory protection so that competitors are almost non-existent,” Mufti revealed.
Therefore, Mufti urged the government and operators to immediately conduct an independent and transparent investigative audit to uncover the causes of the accident.
He also called for the acceleration of implementing automatic safety systems across all railway lines, especially in dense areas like Jabodetabek.
“No more trains should run without digital protection,” he said.
For information, the accident between the KRL Commuter Line and the KA Argo Bromo Anggrek occurred at Bekasi Timur Station, Bekasi, West Java, on Monday night (27/4/2026).