Public Works Minister Instructs Joint Command Posts to Mitigate Flood Risks on Homecoming Routes
Jakarta — The Public Works Minister, Dody Hanggodo, has instructed the formation of a joint command post between the National Road Implementation Agency (BBPJN) and the River Basin Agency (BBWS) to mitigate the risk of flooding and landslides along the North Coast highway (Pantura).
This integration measure has been taken to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the 2026 Eid homecoming, which is predicted to remain affected by extreme weather conditions.
The Public Works Minister identified uneven road surfaces and misaligned bridge joints as serious safety threats to motorcyclists. In response to flood-prone areas scattered across West Java, Central Java, and East Java, the minister has ordered stricter inter-agency technical coordination.
The River Basin Agency teams have been instructed to position portable pumps at critical locations to prevent standing water from disrupting traffic for more than one hour. “I have already instructed the creation of a joint command post between the Road Agency and the River Agency. The River Agency teams will bring their pumps. When flooding occurs, we will ensure that water accumulation does not exceed one hour,” stated Dody during an infrastructure readiness inspection in Central Java on Sunday (1 March 2026).
However, the minister acknowledged that permanent normalisation will require years due to high sedimentation rates.
The Public Works Minister levelled sharp criticism at road maintenance quality, which he said had been perfunctory in approach. He highlighted the prevalence of road patches that created bumps or “lumps” endangering motorcyclist balance, particularly in heavy rain and areas lacking street lighting.
Dody also pointed out the problematic condition of bridge expansion joints that often cause vehicles to “jump” when crossing. He set a deadline of ten days before Eid for regional authorities to smooth these bridge joints and complete road markings, though some may require temporary markings.
He acknowledged that working in rain conditions increased costs because certain sections had to be reworked to maintain quality standards. “We are limited on time, perhaps only one month of working days available. So due to the time constraint, costs will naturally be somewhat higher. But I want it smooth, so let’s get it done. If we need more funds, we’ll find them,” he added.
All construction and road repair work has been ordered to halt completely ten days before Eid. The Public Works Minister plans to conduct a final inspection during that period to ensure asphalt quality and road safety fully meet the established standards.