Google Maps Removes Route Through Rice Paddies to Purwomartani Toll Gate, Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Authorities have removed alternative routes to the Purwomartani Toll Gate in Sleman Regency from Google Maps following reports of motorists becoming lost while attempting to bypass congestion on the main Yogyakarta-Solo highway. The move, announced Tuesday evening by Rachmat, a spokesperson for PT Jasamarga Jogja-Solo (JMJ), aims to prevent drivers from inadvertently navigating through rural roads and rice paddies.

Rachmat confirmed that the routes, which had been utilized by some drivers seeking to avoid traffic bottlenecks, were deleted from the mapping application at the request of JMJ. “Information from our teams in the field indicates that the routes leading to the Purwomartani Toll Gate have been removed from Google Maps,” he stated during a visit to the toll gate on Tuesday night.

The decision comes after a surge in reports of drivers, guided by Google Maps, finding themselves on narrow, unpaved roads through agricultural areas. Damar, a traveler returning to Jakarta from Yogyakarta, recounted his experience on Tuesday, describing how the navigation app directed him onto a path through rice paddies. “Google Maps directed me, aiming for the toll road. Suddenly, I was on a dirt road through the fields. I hesitated, but turning back wasn’t possible,” he said.

The issue was further highlighted by Haryono, a commuter traveling from Sleman to Surabaya, who noted the heavy congestion visible on Google Maps along the Yogyakarta-Solo highway. “Google Maps showed the Solo road was completely red [indicating heavy traffic]. It directed me onto alternative routes to reach the Purwomartani Toll Gate,” he explained.

In response to the situation, JMJ has increased the number of directional signs leading to the toll gate and deployed personnel to assist motorists. “Our teams are on standby and we have installed additional signage to guide drivers to the Purwomartani Toll Gate,” Rachmat added. Despite these efforts, reports indicate that some drivers continued to follow the outdated Google Maps directions, becoming stranded in the rural areas.

The removal of the routes from Google Maps represents a direct intervention by the toll road operator to manage traffic flow and prevent further incidents of motorists becoming lost. While the move is intended to streamline access to the Purwomartani Toll Gate, it remains to be seen whether it will fully resolve the issue of congestion and driver confusion.