City Council Demands Swift Undergrounding of Overhead Utility Cables

Jakarta City Council Commission D Member, Ida Mahmudah has urged all utility operators to immediately relocate overhead cables underground.

These cable companies must lower (their overhead cables) immediately

She called on the Jakarta government to take decisive action against operators who fail to comply with the regulations.

"These cable companies must lower (their overhead cables) immediately. If not, the local government must act firmly and simply cut the cables to ensure they are serious about relocating the network," she asserted, Thursday (6/25).

Messy Aerial Cables on Jalan Prof DR Soepomo Organized

She emphasized that all telecom and fiber optic providers should move their cables underground right away, especially in zones where integrated utility ducting is already finished, thus such incidents do not happen again.

Then another member, Muhammad Thamrin believes the case serves as a wake-up call for all parties, as it is not the first time such an incident has occurred.

He emphasized that Bylaw No. 8/2025 on Utility Network Placement must be implemented immediately.

Therefore, he pushed the Jakarta government to summon utility operators to tidy up hanging cables and speed up the overhead-to-underground cable relocation, focusing on main roads, TOD areas, MRT corridors, tourist sites, and dense residential zones.

For the long run, he suggested building common utility ducts and forming the Jakarta Utility Management Authority under a BLUD structure. This authority would oversee utility maps, permits, and the integrated use of underground space.

"Currently, utility management involves many agencies and parties, but coordination has not been optimal," he explained.

On the other side, Bun Joi Phiau in the same commission expressed his deepest condolences over the passing of a female student from SMAN 6 Jakarta. The incident reflects the poor management of utility networks in the capital.

"Her life should not be the victims of disordered cable infrastructure, which has long been under public scrutiny," he explained.

Moreover, he backs Governor Pramono Anung’s directive to relocate all overhead lines underground.

He is also calling on the Jakarta government to establish definite deadlines for operators, perform a thorough audit and mapping of the networks, and apply firm penalties based on Bylaw No. 8/2025.

According to him, operators proven to be negligent resulting in fatalities must be held legally accountable. Hopefully, this tragedy serves as momentum to overhaul Jakarta's utility network management so that similar incidents do not happen again.

"We are going to keep a close eye on the actual steps being taken by the Jakarta government and the operators. We want to make sure there aren't any more deaths caused by infrastructure problems that were, in fact, preventable,” he asserted.