Pasar Minggu Through Road: A Stalled Project Under Eight Jakarta Governors

The Pasar Minggu through road is a project I often pass by. This road can be considered an eternal endeavour due to its persistently unfinished construction. Even as Jakarta’s governors come and go, this two-kilometre through road remains incomplete, with no signs of resumption. Instead, excavations are currently underway for pipe installation at the site. According to my records, the project began during Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok (2014-2017), and continued into the eras of Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat (2017), Governor Anies Baswedan (2017-2022), and the current Governor Pramono Anung (2025-present), yet it shows no progress. In between, there were Acting Governors (Plt) like Sumarsono (2017), Acting Daily Heads (Plh) like Saefullah, Plt Governor Budi Heru Hartono (2022-2024), and Teguh Setyabudi (2024-2025). However, across the terms of four definitive governors and various acting or interim ones, the through road project has demonstrated no advancement. Why is that? Has the DKI Provincial Government forgotten about this project? Or has it simply been left to languish? Or are there other reasons unknown to the public? The writer notes that the through road project alongside the tracks started with the eviction of several buildings near Pertigaan Volvo in Pejaten Timur Ward, Pasar Minggu District, South Jakarta. At the project’s outset, there appeared to be no obstacles, and several houses were demolished. Unfortunately, midway through, progress became extremely slow, akin to a snail’s pace. One thing is certain: this through road along the railway edge seems neglected. Some sections of the road have been widened and completed, while in others, buildings remain unacquired. Along the footpath near Pasar Minggu Station, housing still stands in full array. Not a single one has been freed, though some have been vacated. This indicates that the project’s journey is still long. In fact, the benefits of this through road would be greatly felt by the public, especially vehicle drivers, once completed. Naturally, road users from Kalibata passing the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) headquarters would no longer need to detour at Pertigaan Volvo when heading to Tanjung Barat, Lenteng Agung, and even Depok City in West Java. To date, that intersection is frequently congested. This is due to the high intensity of KRL Commuter Line trains. Sometimes, vehicles have barely moved when the crossing gates close again. Moreover, the level crossing becomes slippery after rain. This makes the traffic flow at Pertigaan Volvo a regular bottleneck.