Jakarta Official Wibi Demands Accountability for Abandoned Excavation Sites

Jakarta City Council Vice Chairman, Wibi Andrino is urging a fast-track approach to road repairs as unfinished excavation projects continue to plague Jakarta’s streets.

Jakarta should be an orderly metropolis

Pointing to a string of utility and sewage projects, Wibi flagged the lack of immediate restoration once underground tasks are finished. He warned that these lingering sites have become a major catalyst for traffic snarls and a hazard for motorists.

"We can't allow road surfaces to remain open for months after the underground work is done. For residents, it’s an eyesore of potholes and constant traffic jams," he remarked, Tuesday (3/3).

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According to him, while sewage systems, piping, and other utility works are vital for the city’s long-term interests, their execution must not come at the expense of public comfort and safety.

Wibi pointed out a frequent disconnect in responsibility between contractors tasked with drilling and those responsible for road resurfacing. This fragmented approach, he argued, risks creating a supervisory vacuum.

"The excuse of having different contractors should not lead to a lapse in responsibility. Whoever handles the excavation must ensure that the restoration is done to completion," he asserted.

He called on the Jakarta government to immediately conduct a comprehensive inventory of all excavation sites where subterranean work has concluded but permanent restoration remains pending.

Then he pushed for the establishment of mandatory deadlines for road resurfacing, along with the imposition of stringent sanctions against negligent contractors.

“Even National Strategic Projects must not be allowed to become a permanent fixture of traffic gridlock. Jakarta should be an orderly metropolis, not a city plagued by endless excavations. The public is entitled to roads that are safe, tidy, and fully functional,” he concluded.