People protest over road damage

TANGERANG: Hundreds of angry residents and public minivan drivers protested on Friday over the long neglected potholes along the road connecting Kosambi and Teluk Naga districts in the northern part of Tangerang regency.

They parked vehicles and formed human barrier, causing chaotic traffic congestion.

"Almost all main roads in the northern part of the regency are seriously damaged. There are many large potholes everywhere," Mamat Cahyadi, one of the protesters told The Jakarta Post.

The road-block protest would continue until the administration promised to repair it, according to Mamat, adding that residents would also refuse to pay taxes.

Dozens of police officers sent from the Teluk Naga Police station tried several different methods disburse the crowd, but to no avail.

Tangerang Public Works Agency head Hermansyah said the administration had allocated Rp 60 billion from this year's budget for the maintenance of a total of 420 kilometers of roads. -- JP