"We have made several preparations to welcome the homecoming flow, including by mapping disaster-prone areas and readying heavy equipment there," Head of Bina Marga, Tanah Datar Public Works Office Ronny Elisman stated in Batusangkar, Saturday.
Elisman remarked that nearly all areas in Tanah Datar were susceptible to landslides, though it was usually on the Lintau Buo road to Batusangkar past the peak of Pato.
However, it has forged coordination with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the local police to secure the road and deploy heavy equipment in the area.
The agency has coordinated with the provincial PU office to repair provincial roads on the Tanah Datar-Payakumbuh connecting road that have incurred significant damage.
Elisman has set a target to complete the road work before the Eid al-Fitr homecoming. Moreover, the provincial Public Works Office will offer heavy equipment at the location on the Batusangkar-Bukittinggi and Batusangkar-Payakumbuh connecting road.
"We are targeting to complete the work on the provincial roads before D-7 of Eid Al-Fitr, and a heavy-duty equipment from the provincial office is deployed on the connecting road," he stated.
In the meantime, Chief of the Tanah Datar Police AKBP Bayuaji Yudha Prajas stated that his office and related agencies will prepare two heavy-duty equipment to ensure comfort for travelers.
"We have coordinated with the Department of Public Works and the local BPBD, and they will be on standby for 24 hours by readying facilities in the form of heavy equipment," he stated.
Moreover, his side will employ traffic engineering approaches as a precautionary measure against congestion at several points in the area, particularly in Batusangkar City and other tourist attractions.
This is crucial as Tanah Datar is one of the areas that travelers frequent and has become a tourist destination during the Eid holidays, so congestion often occurs.
He noted that several points under the Tanah Datar police's jurisdiction forecast to experience congestion are at Istano Basa Pagaruyung, Batusangkar Market, and in proximity to restaurants.
"Only one-directional flow will be allowed at Istano Basa Pagaruyung. We urge the management of restaurants to be more orderly in parking vehicles," he added.
Translator: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
