“We estimate the budget at nearly Rp4 trillion, for the sake of safety,” Prabowo said on Tuesday while visiting victims of the crash at Dr. Chasbullah Abdulmadjid Regional General Hospital in Bekasi City, West Java.
The president explained that thousands of railway crossings across the island are part of legacy infrastructure dating back to the Dutch colonial era and have not received comprehensive upgrades for decades.
According to Prabowo, the decision reflects the government’s recognition that many crossings remain unguarded, making them highly vulnerable to accidents.
He instructed his administration to immediately address the issue through two main approaches: building guard posts or constructing flyovers at high-risk crossings.
“I will order that all these crossings be fixed immediately, whether by building guard posts or flyovers. We will determine the implementation,” he said.
For Bekasi specifically, Prabowo has approved the construction of a flyover under a presidential assistance scheme, citing the area’s severe traffic congestion and urgent safety concerns.
The Bekasi regional administration had previously proposed the construction of thousands of meters of flyovers to reduce accident risks at vulnerable crossings.
Prabowo emphasized that the significant budget allocation is necessary given the vital role of railways as a mass transportation system for the public.
He added that the program is intended to resolve long-standing safety issues at level crossings, many of which have been neglected for nearly 80 years since Indonesia’s independence.
Based on the latest data as of 08:45 AM local time, the collision between a commuter line (KRL) and an intercity train near Bekasi Timur Station has left 14 people dead and 84 others injured.
State railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) said all medical expenses for the injured and funeral costs for the deceased will be fully covered by insurance and the company.
Injured victims have been evacuated to several healthcare facilities, including Bekasi Regional General Hospital, Kramat Jati Police Hospital for identification processes, and a number of private hospitals in the Bekasi area.
As part of its emergency response, KAI has also set up an emergency response post and an information center at Bekasi Timur Station to help families obtain verified information regarding passengers’ conditions and the handling of their belongings.
Read: Prabowo Assures Compensation for Bekasi Train Crash Victims
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