Jakarta (24/10) – The status escalating of the Railway Engineering Center (BTP) for the Northern Sumatra Region from the previous Class II into Class I will be realized soon following the Draft Minister of Transportation Regulation (RPM) concerning the Organization and Work Procedure of the Railway Engineering Center which has been approved by the Ministry of Transportation. Ministry of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform (KemenPAN-RB) on Monday (24/10). This approval was given at the Focus Group Discussion (FGD)  Strengthening the Railway Engineering Center which was attended by representatives of the KemenPAN-RB and all structural officials of the Directorate General of Railways in Jakarta.

Director General of Railways (Plt) Zulmafendi said that the institutional strengthening of the DJKA, which was approved by the KemenPAN-RB, did not only target BTP in the Northern Sumatra Region, but also the entire Railway Engineering Center in the DJKA environment. "Institutional improvement needs to be done in order to maximize the performance and supervisory functions carried out by DJKA through technical implementing work units in the form of centers in their respective work areas," said Zulmafendi.

 Furthermore, Zulmafendi said that this institutional strengthening was carried out by expanding the scope of work and channeling the details of the main tasks and functions of each of these work units. Thus, it is hoped that the resulting outcome can have a more positive impact on the community and in accordance with the function of DJKA as a regulator.

 One of the efforts made in the context of institutional strengthening is by delegating some of the duties and functions of the directorate to technical centers in their respective work areas. In this case, Zulmafendi explained that the main tasks and functions delegated from the Technical Directorate to the Railway Engineering Center include:

•       Development of railway infrastructure;
•       Operation of railway infrastructure;
•       Maintenance of railway infrastructure; as well as
•       Operation of railway infrastructure.

 "The delegation of main tasks and functions will be contained in the PM's Plan on the Organization and Work Procedure of the Railway Engineering Center which has now been approved by the KemenPAN-RB," continued Zulmafendi. Therefore, Zulmafendi expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all parties who have supported, especially to the KemenPAN-RB which has given approval to this RPM.

 After the delegation of these main tasks and functions, it is expected that the supervisory function can be more measurable and directed in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. "In the future, formation adjustments will be made at the railway engineering centers to adjust to the new PM so that slowly the duties and functions of DJKA as a regulator can be more in line with the applicable laws and regulations," said Zulmafendi. (HJA)