Commission V of the DPR asks for a thorough evaluation of the railway crossing

Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has asked the Ministry of Transportation together with PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) to conduct a thorough evaluation of all railway crossings in Indonesia to improve the safety of road users and train travel.

Chairman of the Group of Fractions (Kapoksi) of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Gerindra Faction, Danang Wicaksana Sulistya in his statement received in Bogor, West Java, Saturday, said the initial step that needs to be taken is to inventory all crossing points to find out the actual conditions on the ground as well as the level of risk of each location.

"There needs to be a thorough evaluation of the railway crossing. The Ministry of Transportation together with PT KAI must inventory all crossing points to know the conditions, risk levels, and the right solutions for each location," said Danang.

According to him, the results of the inventory must be the basis for the formulation of long-term policies related to the handling of a piece of crossing in various areas.

He assessed that for crossings with high traffic density and accident risk, the government could consider building infrastructure in the form of flyovers and underpasses to eliminate the potential for conflict between train travel and road users.

Meanwhile, for crossings that still use a single-piece system, Danang asked for various improvement measures to be carried out, including an evaluation of the elevation of the rail and road surface so as not to endanger road users, especially motorcyclists.

"One of the things that needs attention is the elevation of the train tracks relative to the road surface. Don't let the too large height difference endanger road users, especially two-wheeled vehicles. Crossings must be designed to remain safe and comfortable for the community to pass through," he said.

He asked for an evaluation to be carried out on the completeness of signs, early warning systems, gates, lighting, and the driver's field of vision towards the train track.

According to Danang, safety must be the top priority in managing railway crossings, so synergy is needed between the central government, local government, Ministry of Transportation, PT KAI, and other stakeholders.

"The ultimate goal is to create a crossing that is safer, more comfortable, and able to minimize the risk of accidents. This evaluation must be carried out thoroughly and continuously as part of efforts to improve national transportation safety," he said.