Residents Complain Depok Baru Station Access Limited to Stairs: 'It's Suffocating'

Residents have drawn attention to the accessibility shortcomings at Depok Baru commuter rail (KRL) station, which they say is unfriendly to elderly passengers and persons with disabilities. Commuters have complained that the station’s underpass can only be accessed via stairs.

“Even for able-bodied people, it’s extremely congested going up and down the stairs during rush hour. One side of the staircase is as narrow as a household staircase, so it’s really suffocating. And the elderly, disabled people, and those already using crutches all have to share this and still climb the stairs,” said Aulia, speaking to reporters on Sunday (22/2/2026).

She said a close relative had switched to boarding the commuter train at Pondok Cina Station because they could not cope with climbing the stairs at Depok Baru Station. She expressed hope that lifts would be installed at the station.

“There really should be lifts. At the very least, if there’s no budget for lifts or escalators, build an overpass across the tracks. If that solution isn’t feasible due to safety concerns, then think about the risks to passengers as well,” she added.

Another resident, Tania (22), also said Depok Baru Station needs lift facilities, particularly since the station’s only means of crossing between platforms is the underpass staircase.

“There are no lifts for transferring between platforms. They have wheelchairs available, but they’re useless in practice,” said Tania.

She drew a comparison with conditions at Depok Lama Station. Although Depok Lama Station also lacks lifts, she said elderly and disabled passengers can access a door that is opened for them by station staff.

“At Depok Lama Station, there’s still a ground-level passage where security guards open the door for people who need to cross. At Depok Baru Station, there’s nothing at all — just the underpass with stairs,” she added.

She said the underpass is also narrow. Passengers wishing to reach the Bogor-bound platform must enter through the station entrance near the market.

“The staircase going down from the Bogor platform is really narrow. So people heading towards the terminal who don’t want to climb the stairs have to go the long way round past the market — exiting at the Bogor platform and walking around the market. There really needs to be a lift,” she said.

Observations by journalists at the location on Sunday (22/2) found that from the main entrance of Depok Baru Station, there are stairs for the general public and a separate path for persons with disabilities. The station area features tactile guiding blocks for visually impaired passengers. However, to reach the opposite platform, the only access is via the underpass staircase, which lacks guiding blocks.

Although wheelchairs are provided on each platform, persons with disabilities cannot cross between platforms directly, as the underpass staircase remains the sole means of transferring between platforms.