Sumbar-Jambi Trans-Sumatra Highway Cut Off, Bus Journeys Longer and Riskier

PADANG, KOMPAS - The journey of buses and passenger transport vehicles on the Padang-Jambi and Padang-Jakarta routes has become increasingly lengthy and risky due to the severance of the national cross-Sumatra road (jalinsum) in Bungo Regency, Jambi Province. Transport companies are hoping for the damaged road to be repaired promptly.

Entrepreneurs and drivers of travel cars on the Padang-Bungo route, for instance, are greatly disrupted by the closure of the Sumbar-Jambi Jalinsum since Sunday (2/3/2025). The number of passengers has drastically decreased, travel time has become longer, and journeys have become increasingly risky.

"The disruption of the Trans-Sumatra Highway greatly affects our driving smoothness. Alternative routes are somewhat difficult; sometimes they are good, sometimes bad, and sometimes flooded," said Yusri (48), a travel driver at PT Restu Ibu Transport, Thursday (6/3/2025), in Padang.

PT Restu Ibu Transport is a travel company serving the Padang-Bungo route. Yusri stated that since the collapse of the trans-Sumatra highway in Bungo, Restu Ibu travel vehicles on the Padang-Bungo route have had to take alternative roads, namely via the old crossroad, Padang Lamo Road, and through Sungai Rumbai.

Distance and travel time also increase when using alternative routes. Yusri explained that the normal travel time when passing through Jalinsum is only around 6-7 hours, whereas using alternative routes can take up to 9-10 hours.

Yusri added that traveling through the alternative routes is also very risky due to numerous potholes along the road. Additionally, the two alternative routes via Sungai Rumbai are difficult to pass during rain, as the right path is prone to flooding and the left path becomes slippery due to mud.

If it rains, said Yusri, drivers are forced to take the risk of using an alternative route via Padang Lamo Road, which is farther and more dangerous as it passes through a broken bridge connected by coconut trees in Tebo Regency, Jambi.

Indra Farizal (52), another Restu Ibu travel car driver, said that the broken down of the Trans-Sumatra Highway also caused the number of passengers to drop drastically. In normal situations, the travel car with a capacity of ten passengers can get an average of eight passengers per trip.

However, currently, there are only three to four passengers on average per trip. "Passengers are afraid to travel because of the road and weather conditions," Indra said.

Yusri and Indra also hope that the government can immediately repair the collapsed Jalinsum so that the journey of public transportation vehicles can return to normal and safe. In addition, this condition is also a lesson for the government about the importance of maintaining alternative roads.

"The current emergency situation shows how important alternative roads are, so they need to be maintained. If not, like the current situation, everything will be a hassle," said Indra.

Longer and longer travel distances and times are also experienced by the NPM Bus Company (PO) fleet, both on the Padang-Jambi and Padang-Jakarta routes. Buses are forced to take detours, especially since they have been prohibited from crossing alternative roads in Dharmasraya Regency for the past two days.

Andri (50), an NPM PO agent, said that for the route from Padang to Jakarta or to Jambi, buses must go via Kiliran Jao, then to Rengat (Riau), in order to enter the East Sumatra cross-country road.

The current emergency situation shows how important alternative roads are so they need to be maintained. Otherwise, like the current situation, everything will be a hassle.

"The distance and travel time are getting further and longer. Usually it only takes about 28 hours to Jakarta, now it can take five hours more than usual," he said.

Andri also hopes that the government will immediately repair the broken Trans-Sumatra Highway in Bungo, especially since the Eid homecoming season is coming soon.