MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM – The Medan City Government has reaffirmed its commitment to urgently improve the access road leading to the public cemetery (Tempat Pemakaman Umum/TPU) in Kelurahan Terjun, Medan Marelan District. The project aims to make the burial site fully accessible and functional for the public in the near future.
Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas made the statement during a field inspection on Friday (May 29, 2026). He noted that the current access road consists of unpaved soil along the banks of the Bederah River, making it impassable for vehicles, including emergency ambulances.
"Today I returned to Marelan to respond to residents' concerns regarding the shortage of burial land. On site, the main issue is the damaged access road, which prevents ambulances from entering," Rico said.
Access to TPU Marelan Remains a Critical Issue
During the visit, the mayor was accompanied by several municipal officials, including the Head of the Water Resources, Public Works, and Construction Agency, Khairul Azmi, Head of the Environmental Agency Melvi Marlabayana, and Medan Marelan Subdistrict Head Zulkifli S. Pulungan. The mayor also walked part of the site to directly assess the condition of the area.
According to the city administration, the poor road access remains the biggest obstacle to the utilization of the approximately 1.8-hectare cemetery site.
Rico also highlighted the growing pressure on burial space in Medan Marelan, noting that capacity is already critically limited.
"Burial space in Marelan is very limited. In some cases, graves are even stacked on top of each other. The situation is already critical," he said.
Coordination with River Authority Underway
The Medan City Government stated it will immediately take concrete steps to improve access so that the cemetery can be used without further delay.
"We are committed to improving the road so that this cemetery can soon be utilized," Rico emphasized.
The administration is also coordinating with the River Basin Authority (Balai Wilayah Sungai/BWS), as the access road is part of an inspection path along the river corridor.
Initial Measures: Road Compaction Planned
Head of the Medan Public Works Agency (SDABMBK), Khairul Azmi, explained that the access road falls under the authority of the BWS. However, the city government will not wait for the formal process and has already begun coordination efforts to extend the partially paved road toward the cemetery.
"As an initial step, the road will be compacted and concreted so that emergency and civilian vehicles can reach the area," Khairul said.
He added that the city government will send an official letter to the BWS on Monday to accelerate the process.
"We will send the letter to the BWS on Monday," he concluded. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala