PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The city of Bandung is slowly being tidied up. One focus now being intensified is the cleanup of messy overhead cables that pose a potential danger to road users.

Throughout 2026 until early May, the Bandung City Government, through the Communications and Information Service, has tidied up 41 cable points on various roads.

Head of the ICT Infrastructure Division of the Bandung City Communications and Information Service, Indra Arief Budyana, revealed that cable arrangement is carried out routinely and in response to reports from residents and incidents in the field.

"In addition to routine activities, we also handle many incidental cases, such as cables being pulled by trucks, fallen trees, or dangling cables due to changes in infrastructure," he said on Wednesday (May 6, 2026).

Dozens of repairs have been carried out across various strategic and busy areas, from Jalan Merdeka, Aceh, and Cihampelas to the Soekarno-Hatta and Gedebage areas. The cleanup efforts have not only focused on main roads, but also on residential areas such as Cigadung, Sukajadi, and Mengger.

One of the most recent repairs was carried out in the Gedebage area. Long cables dangled due to the loss of support pillars following the bridge widening project.

Indra explained that the main priority for fires is cables lying across roads, particularly at intersections. These conditions are considered the most risky because they can get caught in large vehicles.

"If a cable crosses the road, it's dangerous. It could get caught in a truck or tall vehicle, especially if it's low or loose," he explained.

Despite its routine nature, these enforcement efforts are not without challenges. One of these is limited personnel, particularly when dealing with sudden incidents outside of working hours.

"If an incident occurs at night, such as a cable being pulled by a vehicle, it will certainly take time to mobilize. We're not on standby 24/7," said Indra.

In addition, cross-agency coordination is also a challenge, especially when handling is carried out on national roads which require permits from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing.

Going forward, the Bandung City Government is targeting more permanent arrangements by encouraging the use of underground cables, especially for fiber optic networks.

"We hope that in the future, there will be no more cables crossing the road. At the very least, they can be lowered at intersections," he said.

This effort will also be strengthened by plans to introduce national guidelines regarding telecommunications infrastructure, so that there are uniform standards between the central and regional governments.

The Bandung City Government also encourages the public to play an active role in maintaining environmental safety. If residents find dangling or dangerous cables, they can immediately report them to the emergency services at 112.

"Resident reports are very helpful. We usually follow up quickly with the operator," Indra concluded.

With these gradual steps, Bandung is expected to become not only a more comfortable city but also safer and more aesthetically pleasing, free from tangled cables in public spaces. (Bandung City Communications and Information Office/rka)