Safety upgrades underway for Mount Rinjani hiking trails

Mataram (ANTARA) - The Mount Rinjani National Park Authority (TNGR) in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has begun repairing several hiking trails in the Mount Rinjani area to improve visitor safety.

"These repairs are focused on hazardous sections, starting from Pelawangan Sembalun to Segara Anak Lake," TNGR Head Yarman remarked in Mataram on Tuesday.

The trail restoration work involves a joint team made up of military personnel, local porters, volunteers, and other parties.

The goal is to ensure the safety and comfort of hikers, with every step seen as a shared responsibility to guarantee their safe return.

"This is one of our efforts to improve the safety of hikers in the Mount Rinjani area," Yarman stated.

The work includes installing stairs, safety ropes, rock steps, and safety rails along the trail.

"The team is currently continuing the repairs," he added.

Earlier, the authority also conducted repairs on the Torean and Senaru hiking routes in the Mount Rinjani area.

"This activity is part of our broader effort to ensure visitor safety at Mount Rinjani," Yarman stated.

According to the TNGR head, the maintenance team has completed widening the trail at the Banyu Urip area, installing stones, and building steps near the lower end of the handrope section.

"The Torean route is known as the ‘Jurassic Park’ of Mount Rinjani due to its stunning natural views. However, this beauty also comes with challenging terrain that requires extra caution," he stated.

The improvements were prompted by a series of incidents where foreign hikers fell on Mount Rinjani trails.