Bali Transportation Department Hopes to Trial Water Taxi This Year

Denpasar (ANTARA) - The Bali Transportation Department (Dishub Bali) hopes that the trial of the water taxi or sea taxi initiative being promoted by the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) can be conducted this year, 2026.

“At present, we are still finalising the studies, including vessel and port designs, with the hope that the trial can be carried out this year,” said the Head of Dishub Bali, I Kadek Mudarta, in Denpasar on Friday.

Kadek Mudarta assessed that the sea taxi could serve as an alternative amid the heavy road traffic, especially in the area from the gateway of Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport to tourist attractions.

Therefore, the first route to be implemented is from Pantai Sekeh, located next to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, to Canggu, specifically Pantai Berawa.

The sea taxi project is currently in the study phase, and the results of the study will also formulate the roles of related institutions, including Dishub Bali, as the implementation falls under the authority of PT ASDP.

“Yes, it is hoped that this can be carried out by a business entity; since this route is within one regency, Badung naturally has a greater role, but the study will also formulate the roles of stakeholders, including the Bali Provincial Government,” said Kadek Mudarta.

If the study and trial are underway, he said, then in line with the Ministry of Transportation’s target, construction is estimated to be completed by mid-2027.

The Canggu area, specifically Pantai Berawa, was also chosen because it is among the highest visited spots by domestic and foreign tourists in Bali.

For the process, the Ministry of Transportation is currently assigning PT ASDP, as the sea taxi operator, to prepare the DED (Detail Engineering Design) study, targeting construction to start in August 2026 and also aiming for a trial this year.