DPR Member Urges KAI to Enhance Logistics Transport Capacity

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of the House of Representatives Commission VII Bambang Haryo Soekartono has urged PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) to increase its logistics transport capacity to boost economic growth. He assessed that the current railway logistics capacity stands at 200,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit or container equivalent unit). Meanwhile, he said, the previous administration had targeted a railway logistics capacity of 1 million TEUs. “This needs to be pushed further so that logistics transport can be carried out using train sets,” Bambang stated during a working visit to Gambir Station, Jakarta, on Thursday evening. According to him, President Prabowo Subianto has targeted Indonesia’s economic growth to rise to 8 percent. Therefore, he said, logistics transport must be strengthened to support industrial sector activities. In addition, he assessed that increasing logistics capacity via rail would reduce logistics transport activities on highways. This means, he said, that the safety of motorists would be more assured if large trucks are reduced on the roads. “Highways can be safer, more comfortable, less damaged, and so on because rail transport can be used,” he said. For this reason, he stated that PT KAI needs to provide all logistics transport infrastructure at every station, including depots for container handling. Furthermore, access to all stations also needs to be widened to support logistics mobility. “Because that land still belongs to KAI, so if the access is widened, it would be extraordinary for our logistics,” said the House member who oversees industrial affairs, tourism, and the creative economy. With this enhancement, he hopes that logistics activities for industry will run more smoothly if the capacity in the railway sector is adequate. “That will be realised if the train sets can be maximised to meet the needs of the industries in Indonesia,” he said.