Story of the Public Works Minister Driving Himself from Semarang to Brebes via the Trans Java Toll Road: So Far, Good

Brebes, VIVA – Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo directly inspected the Babakan River, which caused flooding in Brebes, Central Java. The flooding once disrupted the national transportation route during the 2026 Eid homecoming period.

Interestingly, he conducted the inspection by driving himself from the Kalilangkung Toll Road to Brebes. This step was taken to directly observe field conditions, including road quality.

“So far good. I was surprised earlier,” Dody said when met by reporters in Brebes, Central Java, on Saturday, 28 March 2026. “Overall, it’s smooth,” he added.

During the inspection, he highlighted the condition of the Babakan River, which he assessed as one of the main causes of flooding due to severe sedimentation. The deposits were seen as obstructing water flow to the sea, causing overflow during heavy rain.

Dody emphasised that flood handling must start from the river mouth to restore smooth water flow.

“The mouth should be worked on first, so we can see its effectiveness,” he said.

According to him, this step is important to ensure water from upstream can flow without obstruction to the sea. After the mouth is improved, handling will continue to other parts of the river gradually.

He also stressed that the dirty condition of the mouth is one of the factors causing water to overflow onto land and roads.

“Because the mouth is dirty. But if the mouth is cleaned, Insha Allah, it will be smoother in the end,” he stated.

Besides cleaning, Dody mentioned the need for building structures at the mouth to prevent sedimentation from re-entering the river due to changes in wind direction. This way, the mouth’s function can last longer.

The government, he continued, has prepared funding for river normalisation through a loan from the World Bank. However, he requested that work be prioritised on the mouth to achieve quick impacts in reducing flood risks.

Dody also targeted the handling to yield results before the next rainy season, so there would be no more water overflow onto the national road.

“Basically, we’ll get it done, so that during the 2026 rainy season, there will be no more overflow (of river water) onto the road,” he said.