Railway flood task force to shield Indonesia rail for Eid

Indonesia’s Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo says a railway flood task force will be set up with state-run operator PT KAI after recent flooding disruptions in northern Java, as reported by ANTARA News.

Speaking in Semarang, Central Java, on Sunday, Hanggodo said the plan is to work with colleagues at the railway service to establish a dedicated team. He said the goal is to keep railways from being disrupted by accumulating rainwater or flooding. “Our plan is to work with colleagues at the railway service to establish a task force. Hopefully, no more railways will be disrupted by accumulating rainwater or flooding,” he said.

Railway flood task force focus ahead of Eid al-Fitr

The minister said he has been inspecting land transport facilities and infrastructure ahead of the Eid al-Fitr homecoming season, when millions of Indonesians travel across the country. Also, those checks included railway tracks, with attention on preventing damage or delays caused by heavy rainfall.

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He cited flooding incidents in the Pekalongan and Grobogan districts as examples of the risks posed by seasonal downpours. In addition, Hanggodo said the effort matters because railway services remain one of the primary transport options, especially for citizens heading to Java regions and Jakarta during the homecoming period. “Such an approach is crucial because railway services have been one of the primary means of transport, especially for citizens heading to Java regions and Jakarta during homecoming,” he said.

PT KAI and ministries coordinate on flood mitigation

Hanggodo stressed the need for cross-institutional cooperation on flood mitigation. Separately, he said he would send a formal letter to Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi to strengthen coordination. “The Ministry of Public Works requires cooperation with the Transportation Ministry in addressing this challenge,” he affirmed.

Pekalongan–Sragi track flooding and speed limits

His remarks came after flooding on February 17 submerged the tracks connecting Pekalongan and Sragi stations to a depth of 10 centimeters, forcing PT KAI to cancel several services from Semarang, Indonesian National Police (INP). Meanwhile, company spokesperson Luqman Arif later reported that trains could resume passage, though only at a maximum speed of 10 kilometers per hour.

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