Permits are not just a formality

Government Regulation No. 34/2006 on Roads stipulates that the utilization of road benefit space and road right-of-way other than its designation must obtain a permit. The utilization must not interfere with the smoothness and safety of road users and not endanger road construction. For DKI Jakarta, the permit for utilization of road benefit space and road right-of-way is issued by the governor. This means that excavation permits should not stop at the administrative stamp. The permit must contain technical drawings, time period, obligation to maintain and safeguard public safety, risk responsibility, and obligation to restore the road space to its original state at the expense of the permit holder.

DKI Regulation 8/2025: The Rules Already Exist, It's Just a Matter of Enforcement

Jakarta already has DKI Jakarta Province Regional Regulation Number 8 of 2025 concerning Placement of Utility Networks. This local regulation was born because Jakarta as a national economic center and global city requires an adequate, organized, and controlled utility network in an integrated manner. In other words, Jakarta does not lack norms, what it lacks is execution discipline. Perda should not be a legal display, it must be felt in the field, for example, projects that close sidewalks must be reprimanded, projects that are delayed must be fined, bad excavations must be dismantled, and operators who repeatedly violate must lose their licenses.[3]

Solution: From Passive Patience to Public Control

The first solution is for the city to make a map of open excavations that can be accessed by the public. Citizens need to know which section is being excavated, who owns the project, the permit number, when it started, when it finished, who the contractor is, and the complaint channel. Second, every excavation permit should require a concrete traffic management plan: night work for congested sections, maximum length of open excavation, safe access for pedestrians, reflective signs, lighting, proper steel plates, and traffic control officers during peak hours. Third, there needs to be a road restoration guarantee or performance bond. Contractors and utility owners should put up a money guarantee before digging. If the excavation is bumpy, subsides, or not up to standard, the government will use the money to repair it, and the contractor will be fined.[4]