Prabowo approves flyover construction in Bekasi to prevent train collisions

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has approved the construction of a flyover in Bekasi, West Java, to prevent a recurrence of train accidents following the collision between the KA Argo Bromo Anggrek and the KRL Commuter Line at Bekasi Timur Station on Monday (27/4) night.

Prabowo stated that the flyover construction was proposed by the Bekasi local government because the area is densely populated and the need for railway transport is very urgent.

“The Bekasi local government has proposed building a flyover, as Bekasi is also densely populated, and the need for trains is very important and urgent,” said Prabowo in a press statement after visiting the victims being treated at Bekasi’s dr. Chasbullah Abdulmadjid Hospital, West Java, on Tuesday morning.

“So I have approved it to be built immediately with presidential assistance,” he added.

According to him, many railway crossings in the area are not guarded, requiring immediate handling for public safety and smooth transportation.

In addition to Bekasi, Prabowo also mentioned around 1,800 railway crossing points on Java Island that face similar issues, necessitating urgent improvements.

“Then on Java, there are 1,800 points like this. This has been from the Dutch era, I think, for several decades, now let’s finish all of that,” said the President.

According to Prabowo, such steps are necessary for public safety as well as to support the smooth operation of railway transport, which he considers very important for public mobility.

“We estimate around nearly Rp4 trillion for safety and because trains are very important to us, we very much need them, and we have to spend that. Now is the time; it hasn’t been done for several decades, now we do it,” Prabowo concluded.

President Prabowo visited the victims of the train collision being treated at dr. Chasbullah Abdulmadjid Hospital in Bekasi City on Tuesday morning. The President arrived at the location around 08:39 WIB.

President Prabowo then proceeded directly to the surgical clinic, followed by the Bougenville treatment room. President Prabowo interacted with the victims who were being treated.

Previously, a collision occurred between the Argo Bromo Anggrek train and the KRL Commuter Line at Bekasi Timur Station on Monday (27/04) night.

PT KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin stated that based on the latest data as of 08:45 WIB, 14 people had died.