The Bandung City Government is prioritizing the acceleration of public street lighting as part of its 2026 infrastructure overhaul. This effort focuses on eliminating dark spots considered prone to accidents and crime, while also improving comfort for road users.
Mayor Muhammad Farhan emphasized that infrastructure development now targets not only roads and drainage but also city lighting as a key factor for public safety, especially at night.
Farhan stated that the improvement of public street lighting is being integrated with road and sidewalk projects. This is important to ensure development is not partial and overlapping, particularly with underground utility networks.
The city government is currently coordinating infrastructure projects with the Water Resources and Highways Agency, the telecommunications sector, and other relevant parties. Synchronization is being carried out to ensure work proceeds effectively without disrupting existing facilities.
Additionally, sidewalk improvements are part of the larger infrastructure strategy. Sidewalks will be designed higher and equipped with barriers to prevent misuse as vehicle parking areas.
Farhan emphasized that sidewalks must remain accessible to all, including people with disabilities. With this concept, the city government aims to create safe, comfortable, and inclusive public spaces.
On the other hand, challenges arise in the drainage sector. The presence of PDAM pipes, PGN gas lines, and Pertamina networks underground often hinders work, requiring careful planning to avoid damage.
However, the most concrete focus currently is on accelerating the installation of public street lighting on several roads with poor lighting. One priority location is Panjunan Street, which has long been known to be dark.
The Head of Facilities and Infrastructure at the Bandung City Transportation Agency revealed that the 355-meter stretch previously had only seven light points with excessive spacing.
“As a result, many areas are not optimally reached by light. This condition is considered risky for road users, especially at night when visibility decreases,” he said.
The Transportation Agency will add 13 new public street lighting points. This addition will reduce the distance between lights to about 25 to 35 meters, ensuring more even illumination.
“Installation is focused on one side of the road, the north side. Based on existing technical calculations, this pattern is deemed sufficient to provide maximum lighting across the entire stretch,” he stated.
According to him, until now, the lights on Panjunan Street have relied on PLN’s electricity poles. This shared system made light distribution less than ideal, even when the lights functioned normally.
After the permanent poles are installed, the Transportation Agency will conduct a re-evaluation to ensure the lighting level meets road safety standards.
“The addition of these lights is also a response to public complaints. Residents feel that the dark road conditions could potentially trigger criminal acts, although no official reports have been received,” he said.
Besides Panjunan Street, the Bandung City Government is also preparing to install around 17 new public street lighting points on Ibu Inggit Garnasih Street. This area requires more lighting due to its wider road and historical significance.
With specifications of seven-meter poles and 70-watt lamps, each lighting point costs approximately 17.5 million rupiah. This acceleration is expected to eliminate dark spots and strengthen overall city infrastructure quality.
