Rieke Diah Pitaloka, a member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has formally urged President Prabowo Subianto to immediately issue a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) regarding the establishment of a Railway Infrastructure Business Entity (BUP). This demand serves as a critical step toward a total overhaul of asset management and railway safety following the devastating collision between the Argo Bromo train and a Commuter Line (KRL) in East Bekasi on Monday night, April 27.
During her visit to the accident site at East Bekasi Station on Wednesday, April 29, Rieke emphasized that a new legal framework is the only way to resolve deep-seated governance issues. She called for the “immediate drafting of a Presidential Regulation to accelerate the implementation of railway infrastructure, the separation of assets, the formation of the infrastructure business entity, and the reformulation of Track Access Charges (TAC) and Infrastructure Maintenance and Operation (IMO) fees.” She noted that without a fresh legal basis, fixing the current management structure would be impossible.
The formation of the BUP is intended to clearly delineate the responsibilities between the Ministry of Transportation as the regulator and PT KAI as the operator. By establishing a dedicated entity, technical management—specifically regarding rail tracks and signaling systems—will have a definitive authority. This move is designed to eliminate budget inefficiencies and ensure that every aspect of the railway’s physical infrastructure is properly maintained and accounted for.
“We must define exactly what falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA), what belongs to PT KAI, and what is managed by the BUP. This structural transition is essential for the future of Indonesian transportation,” Rieke stated firmly.
This initiative is a direct mandate of Law Number 23 of 2007 on Railways, which requires the separation of regulatory and operational functions. Referring to Article 23, paragraph (2), infrastructure that has reached commercial value must be managed by an independent business entity. This ensures that the maintenance of rail lines and signaling systems becomes more transparent, efficient, and no longer triggers unnecessary state budget leaks.
The urgency of this reform is underscored by the tragic scale of the recent accident at East Bekasi Station. The collision claimed 16 lives and left 90 others injured, highlighting the critical need for a more accountable and safer national railway system.
Summary
Rieke Diah Pitaloka, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, has urged President Prabowo Subianto to issue a Presidential Regulation for the establishment of a Railway Infrastructure Business Entity (BUP). This proposal follows a fatal collision between the Argo Bromo train and a Commuter Line in East Bekasi, which resulted in 16 deaths and 90 injuries. The move aims to overhaul asset management and improve railway safety by addressing deep-seated governance issues.
The proposed BUP is intended to mandate the separation of regulatory and operational functions between the Ministry of Transportation and PT KAI, as required by Law Number 23 of 2007. By creating a dedicated entity to manage rail tracks and signaling systems, the government seeks to ensure greater transparency and efficiency. This structural transition is considered essential to define clear responsibilities and prevent the budgetary inefficiencies that have previously hindered national railway safety.