West Java Governor Explains Decision Not to Be Sole Investor in Bandung Raya BRT

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has revealed that the provincial government chose not to be the sole investor in the Bandung Raya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) megaproject in order to maintain equitable budget distribution to all regencies and cities. Although the mass transportation project has high financial profit potential, the limitations of the Regional Budget (APBD) require the West Java Provincial Government to be fair so that remote areas outside the Bandung region still receive a proper portion of infrastructure development. “We understand that the West Java budget is not only for Bandung City, but for the entire West Java region. If everything is focused on Bandung City, then people in Garut will not get their share of roads,” said the Governor, who is commonly called KDM (Kang Dedi Mulyadi), after inaugurating the BRT Bandung Raya infrastructure development at the Leuwipanjang Terminal in Bandung on Wednesday. However, Dedi revealed that this selective step opens up opportunities for the West Java Provincial Government to study similar investment prospects in the future, especially in addressing the urgent need to organise public transportation in other industrial growth areas. “With the development of public transport in the city centre, I see there are two epicentres, one is the Bandung Raya region, and the other is the Bogor Raya and Bekasi Raya regions,” he said. Given the very high level of mobility and population density in these areas, he assessed that the presence of an integrated mass transportation network is an absolute solution to alleviate chronic congestion. “The presence of integrated mass transportation in Bogor Raya and Bekasi Raya is very important to break down traffic jams while serving the high mobility needs of the community,” he stated.