MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Regional Division I North Sumatra has expressed its full support for the planned construction of a replacement bridge in Gang Damai, Jalan Adi Sucipto, Medan Polonia District, Medan City. The project is currently undergoing technical and administrative coordination before entering the implementation phase.
Head of PT KAI Divre I North Sumatra, Sofan Hidayah, confirmed that the company is prepared to support the project in accordance with applicable regulations and corporate governance principles.
"At present, the project is still in the technical and administrative coordination stage. We will support it according to established mechanisms," he said.
Read Also: Rico Waas Aims to Make Pesparani a Prestigious Annual Event in Medan The statement was delivered following a meeting with Medan Deputy Mayor H. Zakiyuddin Harahap at the mayoral office on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Speaker of the Medan City Council Hadi Suhendra and council member H. T. Bachrumsyah.
Urgent Infrastructure Need for Residents
The discussion primarily focused on the replacement bridge, which is considered an urgent necessity for local residents.
The original bridge in the area collapsed in 2024. Since then, residents—including schoolchildren—have been forced to cross the Deli River using a makeshift pipeline crossing, a hazardous solution widely referred to by the community as the "death bridge."
Read Also: Medan Mayor Pushes Digital Reform and Transparency in Traffic Agency Collaboration Model Using KAI Asset LandThe new bridge is planned to be constructed over the inactive Medan–formerly Pancur Batu railway line, which is owned by PT KAI. As a result, the project will be implemented through a corporate asset utilization cooperation scheme in line with good corporate governance principles.
All stakeholders view this mechanism as a viable solution to accelerate construction while ensuring compliance with state asset management regulations.
Previously, the Medan City Government formally sent a letter to PT KAI requesting permission to utilize the land and infrastructure at the former bridge site. The letter, signed by Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas, is considered a key step in accelerating the project.
Read Also: Medan Mayor Confirms Overseas Medical Treatment Reported to Interior Minister Head of the Medan Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Ferry Ichsan, also emphasized that the letter marks a crucial starting point for rebuilding the bridge, which once formed part of a historic railway corridor.
Hope for Safer Daily Mobility
The planned bridge is expected to significantly improve safety and accessibility for residents, particularly in crossing the
Deli River.
The area also holds historical significance as part of a former colonial-era railway line that once played an important role in Medan's transportation and trade network. (IDNC)
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