Kupastuntas.co, Central Lampung - The provincial Road in Rumbia District, Central Lampung, has been in a badly damaged condition for 10 years. Damaged roads reach a length of 5 to 6 kilometers. The condition of the road resembles mud puddles and rice fields, and there is no asphalt left.

Feeling annoyed that the damaged road in Rumbia had not been repaired, some residents staged a protest action by making a video bathing in a pool of mud on the damaged road which went viral on social media.

"This is what makes me lazy to go back to Rumbia, to go back to my hometown. How about that, from when I graduated from elementary school until now I have become a loan shark. It's better in the past when I could fish on this road, now I can make water booms, now I can swim,” said the woman in the video as seen by Kupastuntas.co, on Monday (13/3/23).

In the video, several women can be seen taking pictures like models while playing in the puddles. There were also several other moments where they demonstrated mothers washing clothes like in a river. While the others seemed engrossed in catfish fishing.

Based on Kupastuntas.co's monitoring in the field, the damaged provincial roads started from Seputih Raman to Bandar Surabaya, Central Lampung Regency. The road section crosses several sub-districts, namely Seputih Raman, Seputih Banyak, Rumbia, Bumi Nabung, Seputih Surabaya and Bandar Surabaya. The most severe road damage occurred in Rumbia District, in two villages, namely Rukti Basuki and Reno Basuki. A number of road points already resemble long and deep pools of water, and there is no asphalt left.

Chairman of Commission III of the Central Lampung Regional House of Representatives, Kadek Asian Nafiri said, the Seputih Raman to Bandar Surabaya road section is the responsibility of the Lampung Provincial Government.

He explained that road damage started from Seputih Raman to Bandar Surabaya. However, he continued, the most severe damage occurred in Rumbia District.

"The damage to this road is caused by several factors, including the frequent passage of vehicles carrying more loads, and there are no drainage channels on the side of the road. So when it rains, the water will pool on the road until damage occurs," he said, Monday (3/13/23).

Farid, a Rumbia resident, said that currently the road conditions in Rumbia are very apprehensive. He said it would not be an exaggeration if residents staged a protest by bathing in a puddle on a damaged road.

"Road damage in Rumbia District is in the severe category. Because the shape is no longer a road, but has become a pool of water with a size that is quite long and deep," he said.

Farid said that the most severe road damage was in two villages, namely Reno Basuki and Rukti Basuki, with a length of 5 to 6 kilometers.

"During the rainy season, it's no longer a way. More like a puddle of water and difficult for vehicles to pass. Short vehicles such as sedans cannot pass because the puddles are quite long and deep. If you force it, it will definitely get stuck,” he said.

Resident of Rukti Basuki, Rumbia District, Edi Supriyono said damaged roads in Rumbia District had occurred for 10 years. "It's been 10 years with no improvement. The most severe damage in the last two years, the condition of the road is similar to puddles and rice fields," said Edi.

Edi explained, in March there have been dozens of trucks overturned because they got stuck in puddles. "Especially during the rainy season, water from the road reaches residents' homes because the drainage channels are buried in the ground. So far there has never been any repairs so the damage continues to spread,” he added.

Handoko, a truck driver, said that he passes the road in Rumbia District every day because there are no alternative roads that can be passed.

"There is no other choice. The Aswhite Many-Rumbia-New Style road is the only axis road. I usually load palm and cassava from Gaya Baru up to 20 tons. If there were other road options, I and other truck drivers would definitely not go down this road," said Handoko.

Handoko revealed that the vehicle that often experiences the most rollover incidents is the ankle truck. Because, he continued, an ankle truck if it carries a full load will be prone to tilting when crossing potholes.

When contacted, the Head of the Central Lampung Regional Development Planning Agency, Rusmadi, said that his party had several times proposed road improvements from Rumbia to Lampung Province.

"Thank God this year there has been a notification from Lampung Province that the axis road from Seputih Raman to Bandar Surabaya will be repaired, including the road in Rumbia," said Rusmadi.

Rusmadi explained, the repair of the road section will be included in the repair of the Simpang Randu-Seputih Surabaya section with a budget of IDR 50.8 billion from the Lampung Provincial Government APBD for the 2023 Fiscal Year.

"For this type of road construction, there are rigid concrete and hot mix. Currently still auction," he said.

Head of the Lampung Provincial Highways and Construction Services Office, Febrizal Levi Sukmana explained, the Simpang Randu-Seputih Surabaya section of road in Central Lampung is included in development priorities through the 2023 Regional Expenditure Budget.

"In 2023 there are indeed several priority sections that will be repaired. One of them is the Simpang Randu to Seputih Surabaya section. And we have budgeted IDR 50.8 billion for this," said Levi.

Levi explained, currently the road handling progress is entering the tender process which is targeted to be completed in the near future.

"For the length itself, there are approximately seven kilometers. In handling it, there will be rigid and asphalt. But the majority are rigid. So we ask the public to be a little more patient," he explained. (*)

This news has been published in the Kupas Tuntas daily newspaper edition of Tuesday 14 March 2023 with the title "10 Years of Provincial Roads in Rumbia Severely Damaged"