Transport Minister Announces Stalled Bali MRT Project: No Investors Yet!

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has commented on the progress of plans to build a rail-based mass transportation system like the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in Bali, where the development is intended to address traffic congestion in Denpasar and its surroundings.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the Bali MRT construction plan currently lacks progress because no investors are interested in continuing the project. Despite this, the ministry had previously received news that the project would proceed due to investor interest in building the railway network.

“Regarding the progress of the Bali MRT construction plan, we previously heard of interest, but currently, no investors have come forward or wish to discuss the development of the MRT in Bali again,” said Dudy during a working meeting (raker) with Commission V of the DPR RI on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

Although no investors are currently discussing the continuation of this project, the ministry is still seeking investors while offering the project plan to initiate its construction.

“So we are still trying to offer it to parties who were previously interested in developing rail lines in Bali, whether MRT or LRT in the Bali region,” he explained.

For information, the rail-based mass public transport project in Bali first emerged in 2024. At that time, the proposed project was the development of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) consisting of four networks.

Even then, the LRT project or Bali Urban Subway had held a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2024, conducted by PT Sarana Bali Dwipa Jaya (SBDJ) together with PT Bumi Indah Prima (BIP), and attended by Acting Governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya.

However, after that, there was no further news on the project’s development. Two years later without updates, the LRT plan was then changed to MRT, still handled by PT Sarana Bali Dwipa Jaya (SBDJ).