MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has assured that flood mitigation measures for the Jalan Letda Sujono area in Medan will be included in the government's budget planning and are expected to be implemented in early 2027. The North Sumatra Provincial Government plans to work with the Medan City Government and the Ministry of Public Works to address flooding that has affected one of Medan's key access routes for years.
Bobby made the commitment during a direct inspection of
Jalan Letda Sujono, which is regularly inundated during heavy rainfall. During the visit, he held discussions with Medan Deputy Mayor Zakiyuddin Harahap and representatives of the Ministry of Public Works' road authority in the area beneath the Belmera Toll Road.
The meeting focused on a comprehensive flood-control plan, ranging from improvements to the drainage system to the construction of a retention pond. A clear division of responsibilities among the agencies involved is expected to accelerate implementation in the field.
Bobby emphasized that resolving flooding on
Jalan Letda Sujono requires cooperation among several government agencies because the road is classified as a national road. The route not only serves as an important transportation link for residents but is also one of the main access routes into Medan through the Belmera Toll Gate from various surrounding areas.
"This is a national road, so the Ministry of Public Works is also involved. There is a division of responsibilities: the drainage section falls under the authority of the road agency, and ultimately, a retention pond will be built along the riverbank. The section is approximately 1.7 kilometers long, starting from the flooded section of the road," Bobby said on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during his inspection of the flood-prone area along Jalan Letda Sujono in Medan.
Clear Division of Responsibilities to Accelerate Measures
Bobby explained that the government would divide responsibilities according to the respective authorities of each institution. The Ministry of Public Works' road agency will handle the drainage section under its jurisdiction. At the same time, the retention pond will play an important role in collecting water and regulating its flow before it reaches flood-prone areas.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government and the
Medan City Government will support the program to ensure that construction work proceeds as planned. Bobby also stressed that differences in institutional authority should not become an obstacle to flood mitigation efforts.
According to Bobby, the Medan City Government has already taken initial steps and begun acquiring the land required for the construction of the retention pond. The process is still underway this year.
The availability of the required land is a crucial factor in allowing construction of the retention pond to begin promptly. As land acquisition progresses, the government hopes physical construction can commence in early 2027.
Bobby said the North Sumatra Provincial Government was also prepared to provide funding if the Medan City Government did not have sufficient budget allocations for the project. Following coordination, however, the city administration had expressed its readiness to provide the necessary funds.
"We simply wanted to make sure that the provincial government could step in if the
Medan City Government had not yet allocated funding. However, the city administration has agreed to provide the funds. Therefore, we asked them to accelerate the process because the design has already been prepared," Bobby said.
Bobby urged all parties to accelerate the preparations that are still underway. Since the construction plan has already been prepared, the next steps can be arranged immediately to prevent delays in the implementation of the project.
The measures are particularly important because
Jalan Letda Sujono serves as a strategic transportation route into Medan. Flooding during heavy rainfall not only disrupts residents' activities but can also impede traffic along the important connection between several regions and the capital of North Sumatra.
DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FLOOD CONTROL: North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution explains the division of responsibilities for flood mitigation on Jalan Letda Sujono among the Ministry of Public Works' road agency, the North Sumatra Provincial Government and the Medan City Government. (PHOTO: Imam Syahputra)
Flooding on Jalan Eka Warni Also in Focus
In addition to Jalan Letda Sujono, Bobby Nasution also reviewed flooding problems in Medan Johor District, particularly in the Jalan Eka Warni area. The government is also preparing a joint approach to address flooding in the area.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government will participate in the construction of a so-called Sodetan. This refers to an artificially constructed waterway or tunnel designed to divert part of a river's water flow in another direction. The measure is intended to reduce the volume of water flowing into downstream areas.
Meanwhile, the Medan City Government will be responsible for road construction in the area. The division of responsibilities between the provincial and city governments is expected to help resolve the flooding problem more quickly while improving transportation access for residents.
"The North Sumatra Provincial Government will build the Sodetan, an artificial waterway or tunnel that will divert part of the river's water flow in another direction to reduce the flood risk in downstream areas. The
Medan City Government will build the road," he said.
The cooperation reflects the government's effort to address flooding as a comprehensive issue rather than treating each problem in isolation. Measures will instead be tailored to local conditions and the respective authorities of the agencies involved.
ACCELERATING RETENTION POND CONSTRUCTION: Medan Deputy Mayor Zakiyuddin Harahap assures that the
Medan City Government will accelerate land acquisition for the construction of a retention pond in the
Jalan Letda Sujono area. (PHOTO: Imam Syahputra)
Medan City Government Prepares Land Acquisition
Medan Deputy Mayor Zakiyuddin Harahap welcomed the attention given by the North Sumatra Governor to the flooding problem on
Jalan Letda Sujono. He assured that the
Medan City Government would carry out the necessary land acquisition for construction of the retention pond.
Zakiyuddin said the city administration would continue the process in accordance with applicable regulations. This includes discussions and negotiations with landowners. The Medan City Government hopes the process will proceed smoothly so that the retention pond can be realized as quickly as possible.
"InsyaAllah, we will first acquire the land needed so that the retention pond can be built. We will follow the required procedures, and we are currently negotiating with the landowners," he said in closing.
The government hopes that construction of the retention pond and improvements to the drainage system will reduce flooding along Jalan Letda Sujono. With support from the Ministry of Public Works, the North Sumatra Provincial Government and the Medan City Government, flood-control measures in the area are expected to enter the construction phase in early 2027.
A similar program is also planned for the Jalan Eka Warni area in Medan Johor. There, the North Sumatra Provincial Government will construct a Sodetan, while the
Medan City Government will be responsible for road construction. The government considers cooperation between different levels of government essential to addressing flooding problems that require consideration of water flow, road infrastructure and the simultaneous restructuring of the area.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala