Photo: A number of youth representatives from Bilelando and Kidang Villages stand side by side in front of the road block, (special)
Bilelando — No longer able to wait for authorities to address their neglect, hundreds of youth from Bilelando and Kidang Villages have staged a road block on the main route connecting Kidang-Bilelando-Semoyang Villages a stretch long known as the “death road” due to severe damage and frequent accidents.
This action serves as a moral concern initiative after years of the road’s poor condition failing to receive serious attention from responsible parties.
The road’s severely collapsed surface, unmaintained large potholes, and standing water that often conceals hazards have made this route a nightmare for road users particularly motorcyclists, school students, and residents going about their daily activities.
Numerous cases of injuries and near-fatal incidents have occurred, yet no concrete steps have been taken to repair it.
Amit Abadi, Deputy Chair of the NTB Province’s GMPRI DPD (Regional Representative Council) who also serves as coordinator and spokesperson for the affected youth, emphasized that this action is not anarchic.
“We have clear legal basis. Article 24 paragraph (1) of Law Number 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation states that road authorities are obligated to immediately repair damaged roads that have the potential to cause accidents,” he stated.
He added, “When legal obligations are ignored, the risk of death is imposed on ordinary people. We must act to prevent more lives from being lost in vain.”
Through the road block which will continue until concrete responses are received the youth and GMPRI NTB are demanding three key actions:
1. Emergency repairs followed by permanent restoration for all severely damaged sections of the road.
2. Clear legal accountability for negligent road authorities.
3. Transparent implementation timelines and budget allocations, not empty promises.
“Human safety is far more valuable than traffic flow on a deadly road. This is not resistance against the state this is resistance against negligence that endangers lives,” Amit Abadi stressed.
