Residents complain that Serpong railway crossing deteriorates quickly despite frequent repairs

Residents in Serpong, South Tangerang, have criticised the railway crossing for deteriorating rapidly despite repeated repairs. Bambang, a 60-year-old fruit trader, said the damage at the crossing has persisted for a long time. “It is often repaired but the durability is not long. Even though repaired continuously, it becomes damaged again. Always like that, not lasting,” he told Kompas.com at the scene on Friday, 6 March 2026.

Many motorists, both two‑wheel and four‑wheeled, slow down when passing the crossing. Some motorcyclists were even trapped because the surface is slippery and uneven.

According to Bambang, repairs are usually only carried out when the crossing is severely damaged or in an emergency. “Repairs are done only when it’s really emergency; when it is packed with stones, that is usually only temporary,” he explained.

Oblong, a 50-year-old vegetable seller at Serpong Market, said the hole at the crossing was quite deep before it was finally filled with rocks. “The hole was deep, but now it has been filled and covered with stones,” he said.

He noted that repairs at the crossing have been carried out several times, either resurfacing with asphalt or filling with stones. However, he said these methods are not effective because the damage recurs due to constant train traffic. “No matter how thick the asphalt is, it will be damaged again because the train also passes. So the damage is the same,” he said. “There are always people slipping; sometimes they fall. There was even an incident where someone fell, and neighbours helped them across,” he added.

Therefore, residents hope for higher-quality repairs that do not deteriorate quickly and pose a danger to drivers. “We hope it will be repaired with good quality so it’s not easily damaged. It would be even better if a flyover were built, to improve safety for drivers,” Bambang concluded.