Government accelerates double railway track project

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.