Government accelerates double railway track project

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java

The government has decided to complete the construction of a double railway track connecting the West Java towns of Cikampek in Karawang and Haurgeulis in Indramayu before the Idul Fitri holiday season next year.

The Rp 434 billion project, funded by a Japanese soft loan, was originally expected to finish in 2005.

"We have to take this step because the route is very busy. Finishing the project ahead of schedule will help ease traffic on the route," Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar said here over the weekend.

The 70-kilometer section is a part of the railway route that spans Java's north coast, and is known as the busiest route because most trains traveling across the island use those tracks.

Agum said he was convinced the project could be completed earlier than scheduled due to the full support of others in the field.

"I have discussed the plans with the project manager many times and he guarantees that the construction of the double track could finish earlier without sacrificing quality," Agum said.

Aside from the Cikampek to Haurgeulis route, the government is focusing on the construction of a double track between Cikampek and Cisomang, which is part of the Jakarta to Bandung route, according to Agum.

The government will also use the Japanese loan to finance the latter project, but Agum refused to disclose how much it is worth and when it will commence.

Agum said the government expected to reduce the travel time and curb the possibility of accidents if the two projects finished.

Single track routes are prone to train collisions, the latest one taking place near the West Java town of Cirebon in January this year.

Agum said the government had made railway construction a priority because of public demand.

"The government has no other alternative but to build the double railway track if it wants to make a breakthrough and improve transport infrastructure," Agum said.

Agum was accompanied by state railway company PT KAI president director Oemar Berto during his visit to Cirebon.

"We hope to complete the Cikampek to Haurgeulis route in 2003," Oemar said.