KAI CEO: Kalimantan and Bali railway development still under study
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed us to focus on three regions: first Sumatra, where we are currently working on the detailed engineering design (DED), second Kalimantan, and third Bali.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) President Director Bobby Rasyidin has said that studies on the development of the Trans Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Bali railway lines are still at the review stage as part of the national railway network development plan.
Bobby said the study of railway development in Kalimantan and Bali is a national railway development priority in line with the direction of President Prabowo Subianto.
“The President instructed us on three regions: first Sumatra, where we are currently working on the DED, second Kalimantan, and third Bali,” Bobby said after the groundbreaking ceremony for affordable housing in Manggarai, Jakarta, on Friday.
He said the determination of locations for new railway construction will consider various factors, especially land acquisition readiness, so that project implementation can proceed more quickly and effectively.
According to Bobby, the government will prioritise development in regions with the best readiness so that construction can begin immediately according to the plans that have been prepared.
“We will see. Building a new railway line involves many factors, especially land acquisition,” he said.
He said the President has directed that railway development be focused on the three priority regions through careful planning stages to support the movement of people and efficient logistics distribution.
Bobby stressed that the government will determine which project is realised first based on the results of studies and the readiness level of each region, including Kalimantan and Bali.
“It will be a surprise which one we complete first,” he said.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi affirmed that the government is open to investment opportunities in the development of the national railway network, especially to support logistics transport through the development of lines in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
“If other countries are interested, we would be very pleased and open,” the minister said after the launch of the Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement Hub (ETLE Hub) system in Jakarta on Monday (10/8).
Dudy said the government is opening the widest possible opportunities for investors, both domestic and foreign, in the development of the national railway network to strengthen logistics connectivity and support economic growth in various regions of Indonesia.
According to him, railway development is directed at routes that provide economic benefits while supporting regional development, so discussions are held together with the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas).
Dudy explained that route determination considers the economic potential of the region, transportation needs, and support for regional development so that investments provide optimal benefits for the public and businesses.
Regarding the possibility of a railway line connecting to the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Dudy said the government is still conducting studies and cannot yet confirm which routes will be developed in the next stage. “We will see,” he said.
Meanwhile, regarding investment needs, his office is also unable to calculate the figure yet because it depends on the length of the line, the type of train used, the characteristics of the route, and various technical aspects still being studied by the government.