Residents' Views on Iron Gates at the Taxi-Green KRL Collision Site Crossing in Bekasi

Guards at the unauthorised level crossing on Jalan Ampera in Bekasi City have responded to PT Kereta Api Indonesia’s efforts to install iron gates at the location, which was the scene of a collision between a green taxi and a KRL commuter train. The guards assess that the iron gates would actually narrow the road at the crossing. “In my opinion, this would make it less safe because it would be cramped. The gates would make it cramped. (Now) it’s wide,” said Haidar, one of the guards at the site, on Wednesday (29/4/2026). Haidar stated that this unauthorised level crossing on Jalan Ampera has existed since the 1980s era. From the beginning, he said, the crossing has used bamboo. “Around the 1980s, it already used bamboo,” Haidar revealed. He explained that the location is indeed a busy route. Therefore, the guards on duty do not stop for 24 hours, taking turns. “Usually, this is guarded 24 hours on rotation. Yes, every day. The route is busy, active continuously,” he said. Previously, Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi ordered PT Kereta Api Indonesia to immediately install automatic gates at existing level crossings. Dudy described the gate installation as a short-term step to prevent recurring accidents. “The most important thing we see is the short-term aspect first, which crossings must have gates installed immediately,” Dudy said during the trial run of the KRL Bekasi-Cikarang route on Wednesday (29/4). Dudy stated that the gate repair aligns with instructions from President Prabowo Subianto. He said they would provide warnings up to enforcement in the form of closing unauthorised level crossings. “So we will regulate all crossings that are unlicensed or crossings that endanger train travel. We will repair them and also request that no new crossings are added, which would ultimately complicate things. Because if there are more crossings, it will also add to the train travel time,” Dudy explained. Dudy elaborated on solutions involving the construction of underpasses or flyovers, which are being considered. He said it still requires discussions among many parties for that long-term solution. “Flyovers or underpasses take time. So we must expedite the installation of those gate doors. Because the process for underpasses or flyovers will still take time,” Dudy said. He mentioned that Prabowo has requested that transport infrastructure be repaired immediately. He said the government is still calculating the required budget. “As conveyed by the President, transport infrastructure is number one, which may also include crossings under local government that we will repair. Yes, infrastructure will continue to be calculated. Meaning each region, each location requires different handling. Yes, we will calculate it first, I can’t convey it here. Of course, there are land elements, physical construction, up to management once it’s in use,” he concluded.