Jakarta Hits the Pause Button on Elevated Construction
On Tuesday, the capital city decided to stall the building play—no more viaducts, no more lofty roads—after a string of mishaps that put the “high‑rise” part of the infrastructure plan on shaky ground.
Why the Stop?
The Ministry of Public Works, led by Basuki Hadimuljono, announced a full freeze on any elevated projects. His aim? To run a thorough check on design, equipment, and procedures. “Everything will be evaluated,” he said, adding that President Joko Widodo had sanctioned the move.
When Widodo took office in 2014, he promised a USD 450 billion push to upgrade the country’s logistics and accelerate Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Projects ranged from a Jakarta subway to seven new airports, spanned by state-owned firms.
“Safety First” but with a Twist
Hadimuljono highlighted 14 incidents in the past six months. The latest hit: a girder collapsed on a toll‑road site in Jakarta, injuring seven workers. Another Tuesday, a crane tipped over an elevated railway, claiming four lives and harming five more.
Arie Setiadi Moerwanto, a senior ministry director, confirmed that many projects would be put on hold—though they won’t derail the overall development plan. “The length of suspensions depends on the evaluation results and could reach up to a month,” he noted.
Opposition Sparks Talk of Old‑Fashioned Labor Laws
The Gerindra opposition party blasted the initiative, comparing it to colonial forced‑labor. According to them, “the focus is on meeting deadlines, not protecting workers’ lives.” On Twitter they warned workers to stay alert and urged the public to be cautious when using these projects.
In sum: Jakarta’s elevated projects get a hit‑pause, with a promise of safety checks, while critics argue that speed is being prioritized over human lives.
