Potholes the bane of Tangerang regency

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

How do you tell Tangerang regency from Tangerang municipality? Attentive travelers might be able to tell from the condition of the roads, as Tangerang regency is fast becoming notorious for its damaged infrastructure.

Regency officials estimate that some 720 kilometers, or around 80 percent of the regency's 1,100 kilometers of roads are in urgent need of repair.

"Damage roads have affected the regency's road users, considering that Tangerang is home to more than 2,500 industrial firms," Faisal, spokesman of the Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang, told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.

He said that potholes had caused heavy congestion along main thoroughfares.

"Road users deserve better infrastructure because we regularly pay tax, including when we renew our vehicle permit each year," Faisal said.

Head of the regency's Public Work Agency, Hermansyah said that the administration had allocated Rp 75 billion from this year's budget to repair the roads, while Regent Ismet Iskandar was hoping to get another Rp 10 billion from the central government.

Hermansyah said that the funds would finance 200 road projects, with each project tackling a two kilometer stretch of road.

He said the fact that there was no real drainage system for the regency's roads was largely to blame.

This means that water accumulates every time it rains, filling potholes in the surface of roads, he explained.

The Post observed that potholes are common along the 20 kilometers of Jl. Raya Serpong. Road separators on both sides of the road have also been blamed for traffic congestion and reportedly accidents.

Parluhutan Gultom, who runs a tire kiosk near WTC Matahari on Jl. Raya Serpong, said "traffic congestion can be tolerated, but the potholes and separators have led to accidents and essentially cost lives."