PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan has frozen all construction permits for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project after discovering a number of problems with the quality of infrastructure work in the field.

The decision was made after directly reviewing the progress of construction at several points in the city of Bandung.

Farhan assessed that the public transportation project's construction had not yet met the standards required for a major project. The BRT project is categorized as a Strategic Project, which should have high-quality construction.

"I've decided to freeze all BRT construction permits until they can tidy up the existing five locations," Farhan said.

He mentioned several locations that have come under scrutiny due to the work being deemed untidy. The five locations are Jalan Ir. H. Juanda (Dago), Jalan Merdeka, Jalan RE Martadinata (Riau) in front of Pramuka Park, and two locations in the Dago area: around Dago 101 and in front of the Regional Health Laboratory (Labkesda).

According to Farhan, repairs at these points must be completed before any further work can proceed. He emphasized that the Bandung City Government will not grant additional permits if conditions on the ground remain as they are.

"The BRT project is shoddy. There's no indication that it's a national strategic project. The DPMPTSP has suspended the permit until they can complete the work," he said.

Farhan also emphasized that the city government will not allow any new work to be done, either for corridor construction or work outside the BRT corridor, before comprehensive repairs are carried out.

Based on the results of the interim review, he rejected the BRT project if the quality of work remained as it was now.

"As of today, the results of my review indicate that the Bandung City Government rejects BRT when it sees work like this," he said.

As a follow-up, Farhan will submit an official letter to the Directorate General of Land Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation. The letter will outline the city government's stance on the project's construction conditions, which are deemed substandard.

"I have no doubts. I will forward the letter to the Director General of Land Transportation," said Farhan.

He said that all construction permits under the authority of the Bandung City Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency (DPMPTSP) were temporarily frozen until repairs on the ground were completely completed.

"Seeing the results of the work at that point, the Bandung City Government and the Mayor have rejected the BRT until it is completed, and we have frozen all construction permits from the DPMPTSP until that is completed," he said.

Farhan hopes the contractor and related parties will immediately improve the quality of the public transportation infrastructure so that it meets national strategic project standards and provides maximum long-term benefits to the people of Bandung. (Bandung City Communications and Information Office/rka)