Bandung Barat officials initiate bridge planning for students using rafts

Students at SDN Budiharja in Bandung Barat, West Java, have long relied on bamboo rafts to cross the Saguling Reservoir to reach school. For decades, children from Kampung Sadang have used these rafts to avoid a 2.28 to 4-kilometer detour by land, which typically takes about 30 minutes of walking.

Following public attention and viral social media footage of the students' daily commute, progress has been made toward a permanent solution. Local officials, including the Chairman of the Bandung Barat Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), have expressed concern regarding the safety and educational rights of the children.

Recent reports indicate that survey teams have arrived to mark the coordinates for a new bridge. Local community leader Agus Sumpena confirmed that boundary markers (patok) have been installed to designate the construction site, offering hope for a permanent connection that will significantly reduce travel time for the 16 students currently using the rafts.