Deputy Interior Minister: Strengthening Spatial Planning Regulations Supports Railway Development

The Ministry of Home Affairs strongly supports the development of the national railway network. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Akhmad Wiyagus has stressed the importance of strengthening regulations, particularly spatial planning policies, as a foundation for supporting the national railway development in the regions of Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. “The Ministry of Home Affairs strongly supports the development of this national railway network. In line with its function, as the government and supervisor, it facilitates and synchronises policies with local governments, which is done in a tiered manner,” Wiyagus stated in his remarks in Jakarta on Thursday. Wiyagus conveyed this during the Coordination Meeting on the Development of the National Railway Network at the new Tanah Abang Station, Central Jakarta. These legal foundations serve as the basis for local governments (Pemda) in preparing and adjusting the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) and Detailed Spatial Plan (RDTR), ensuring that railway network development is integrated into regional development planning. In this context, the Ministry of Home Affairs plays a strategic role as a facilitator and supervisor in synchronising policies between the central and local governments. This role is carried out in a tiered manner through the governor as the representative of the central government in the regions up to the district/city level. Furthermore, he explained that by April 2026, out of 21 provinces in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, some regions already have regional regulations (Perda) related to spatial planning, while others are still in the process of revision or evaluation. This situation reflects the level of regional readiness in supporting national railway development, given that railway projects must align with applicable spatial planning documents. “Therefore, this must be formulated carefully,” he stated. Further, Wiyagus emphasised several aspects that need attention in national railway development, including alignment of priorities between central and local levels, strengthening connectivity in areas around nodes, integration of rail networks with regional systems, and coordination across sectors and government levels. “Thus, the success of this agenda is not just about building tracks, but also ensuring that the regional ecosystem and institutional coordination continue to function,” said Wiyagus. The event was also attended by the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency Rachmat Pambudy, the Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency Arif Satria, the Deputy Head of the State-Owned Enterprises Regulatory Agency Aminuddin Ma’ruf, and officials from related ministries/agencies.