Steel Bars and the Reputation of Construction Projects

Kompas/Ryan Rinaldy

Two workers install steel tension rods into the brackets of a pier head on Tuesday (6/3) at the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu (Becakayu) toll road project on Jl DI Panjaitan, East Jakarta. It has been reported that the Feb. 20 collapse of a pier head at the construction site was caused by a reduction in the number of steel rods that were used to bind the pier-head brackets.

For heaven’s sake! That\'s what can be said upon reading about the collapse of scaffolding that supported a pier shaft at the Becakayu toll road construction site in Cawang, East Jakarta.

The accident on the toll road project connecting Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu was not simply due to negligence. Seven workers were wounded in the incident, which was allegedly caused, among others, by the fact that the number of steel rods or stress bars used to bind the buffer was reduced from the initial design of 12 stress bars to four bars.

It was further reported that the 12 steel bars in the design were based on the calculation of civil engineering science and were meant to sustain loads of up to 326 tons. If the number of steel rods is reduced, the structure would have not the ability to support large loads.

The reduction of the number of steel bars was also revealed by PT Kresna Kusuma Dyandra Marga as owner of the Becakayu Toll Road project. Furthermore, the size of the rods that were used – 19-25 millimeters – was also below technical specification standard of 32mm. However, project developer PT Waskita Karya admitted that the buffer used only four bars, but they measured 32 mm according to the design.

As stated by the head of Division III of PT Waskita Karya, Dono Parwoto, it was impossible for his side to reduce the number of bolts and steel rods as they were not comparable with the risks. Instead, he pointed to the workers, who he claimed had failed to properly install the bolts.

Regardless of his argument, news of the developer reducing the number of rods used in constructing the Becakayu Toll Road was surprising and scandalous. Fortunately, the disaster occurred before the project was completed and the toll road used by motorists. It\'s hard to imagine the consequences of such negligent workmanship.

We must reflect on what happened. Is overseeing a construction project not more than just making a profit? We believe that gaining a project is to gain trust. It can also be said that getting a project also means getting a significant mandate to building public facilities that will be used by many people.

We could also say that the recipient of the mandate is a figure that can be trusted and reliable. He is a recognized professionally. He will not only be able to work on projects on time, but also with high quality, in accordance with the design and specifications agreed upon and in accordance with the calculations of engineering.

Therefore, if the developer truly reduced the number of steel rods for its scaffolding, it was clearly a move that was corrupt and dangerous, and those responsible for it cannot be trusted. We hope this case can be thoroughly investigated and the public informed about what really happened.

At the very least we are very disappointed as to why, at a time when the government is intensively developing infrastructure, a developer could allow such an incident to happen.

We once suspected that the series of accidents at infrastructure projects was caused by unqualified workers. However, what happened in Becakayu is more serious than that.