Gov’t Temporarily Stops All Elevated Projects

Minister of Public Works and Public Housing gives a press statement at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (20/2). (Photo by: Public Relations Division/Jay)

In the wake of a string of construction accidents, with the latest one being the collapse of pier head formwork on the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu (Becakayu) Toll Road Kebon Nanas, East Jakarta, on Tuesday (20/2), the Indonesian Government has decided to halt road elevated projects.

“So we will temporarily stop road elevated projects for evaluation by a team from the Construction Safety Committee,” said Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono in a press statement after a Limited Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (20/2).

Basuki added the decision was made during a meeting with Minister of State-owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. He added that Ministry of State-owned Enterprises through its construction state-owned enterprises and consultants will independently evaluate the projects from a number of aspects, including working method, SOP, human resources, and equipment, in order to find out the causes of those accidents.

“Hope it won’t take too long,” Basuki said.

According to the Minister, the temporary stopping of the project includes all road elevated projects including toll roads, long bridges and light rail transit (LRT). However, he added that it is expected that the project schedule will not be delayed.

“For now, we temporarily stop those projects and then we will evaluate them but we will prioritize the LRT project in Palembang due to the upcoming Asian Games,” he said, adding that the decision to stop the project is an instruction from President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo for the purpose of evaluation.

Basuki also said that his ministry that supervises the Construction Safety Committee will give recommendations to the project owners, such as the one at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

“We recommended Ministry of Transportation to dismantle, re-design, and re-build because even in perimeters that do not collapse, we notice that the design is not proper; thus, it has to be re-designed before being re-built,” Basuki said, adding that sanctions will be imposed by Ministry of Transportation.

Basuki further said that Ministry of State-owned Enterprises will also impose sanctions to state-owned enterprises that cause those accidents.

“Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, based on the the recommendation form the Construction Safety Committee, will give a recommendation to Minister of State-owned Enterprises regarding steps to be taken or sanctions to be imposed,” Basuki concluded. (FID/JAY/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)