Your comments on the poor conditions of roads in the capital which endanger motorists and other road users.

They are poorly built, not maintained. Fifty percent of the funds are skimmed from contracts. Indonesian contractors can build good roads, but not with only 50 percent of the money. Potholes are not filled until the road has completely failed.

Then it's too late. The original economic investment is lost. As bad as Jakarta's roads are, they cost three times what roads in developed countries cost. Road building is low tech. If Jakarta can build beautiful malls, it could build a simple street. It is just not the priority of the government.

WILLIAM JAMES Jakarta

Dangerous roads in Jakarta and in other parts of our country are caused by below-standard specifications, insufficient control during construction, poor system of road maintenance, over-loaded trucks and bad drainage.

Public works has to totally reformulate its planning and working performance, where the construction of stronger and longer-lasting concrete roads (using domestic cement) should be preferred to hotmix (imported asphalt).

NUSYIRWAN S.A. Jakarta

The budget for infrastructure is Rp 33.8 trillion (US$3.7 billion)! How much is used for gravel, sand, cement and asphalt? Our cars suffer from the bad road conditions. PETER P

Jakarta

The city administration should build dams or canals near the river and reduce rubbish. And also, the government has to prevent worsening floods.

ANNISA WENING Bandung

Stop corruption, then they will have money to build and fix the roads! SCOTT

Tanggerang, Banten

The solution is simple. Suspend errant contractors and ban them from future tenders. Blacklist them publicly.

C. H. LIM SPO Jakarta

Besides the damage and floods on the roads, making them dangerous for motorists, there is also the busway dividers motorists have to be aware of.

For example, a few meters after you exit Taman Ria from the inner-city toll road toward Semanggi, you will see that the busway divider is too close to the exit.

Also, if the roads are flooded, how can one see the busway dividers? Driving on Jakarta roads is like a soldier running through an obstacle training course.

HING CHI Jakarta

Jakarta's roads pose serious dander because flooding often occurs in the city and it makes the roads scrapes so it can make the traffic jam because more of the roads are unused.

The city administration should build dams or deepen the rivers to catch the water of floods and minimize the buildings which will build up and change with plants the trees, and Jakarta's roads won't get the damage again. ANNISA SALMA

Bandung

We know the circumstances that cause the damage to roads but the automotive tax is at a rate which is not dissimilar to some developed countries. So, why are the roads so poorly maintained? Does the ministry of transportation have a credible answer? And solution?

PAUL Jakarta

Jakarta roads and roads throughout Indonesia will never be built to last until the culture values and respects a project done correctly rather than a kickback. Integrity starts with a living salary.

KEN DAY Jakarta

It is because the low quality of materials used to build the city roads. So when floods happen, the asphalt will be destroyed by the water.

The government is unable to build city roads of high quality because the money for projects is corrupted by government officials, so the most important thing to overcome this problem is that the government and the city administration must not be corrupt.

They can build city roads with the best quality and the people will get the best public facility also. RESA PUSPITA ROSLIANA

Bandung

Next SMS topic Java Jazz Festival

Jakarta is set to host the Java Jazz Festival from March 7 to 9 with a view providing Indonesians more access to the growing popular music. Send your own thoughts about the event via SMS at +62 811 187 2772. Please include your name and city.

-- Editor

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