To Prevent Road Subsidence, Urban Planning Observer Urges Jakarta Provincial Government to Map Busy Routes

Urban planning observer, Setiawan, has urged the Jakarta Provincial Government to take immediate steps to anticipate and prevent the recurrence of road subsidence incidents. Setiawan detailed four mitigation steps deemed necessary for execution by the Jakarta Provincial Government to maintain the safety of the capital’s infrastructure.

He explained that the first step must be conducting a thorough mapping of vulnerable areas. The Jakarta Provincial Government is requested to detect points with a high risk of land subsidence. “First, map all potential subsidence areas in Jakarta, particularly in busy areas and roads that serve as the city’s main arteries,” Setiawan stated on Wednesday.

Once the mapping process is complete, the second step is to develop clear contingency planning documents. Setiawan emphasised the importance of the Jakarta Provincial Government creating a comprehensive and measurable mitigation plan for all potential subsidence points.

The third step concerns the speed of emergency response when road subsidence incidents occur on the ground. Relevant agencies are requested to provide tactical technology to ensure public mobility is not completely paralysed. “Prepare temporary structures to cover subsidence sites so that roads can function immediately on a temporary basis,” Setiawan explained.

Finally, Setiawan noted that an equally crucial step is traffic engineering management. He requested the Jakarta Department of Transportation (Dishub) to collaborate with the police to finalise evacuation routes and vehicle diversion scenarios well in advance. The Jakarta Provincial Government is expected to conduct simulations on alternative roads to ensure the readiness of the transport system during emergencies on main routes.