East Java Provincial Government Attempts Reactivation Of Railway Lines In Madura

SURABAYA - The East Java Provincial Government (Pemprov) is making efforts to make the construction of the reactivation of the railway line on Madura Island a top priority.

The Deputy Governor (Wagub) of East Java Emil Elestianto Dardak explained that according to Presidential Regulation Number 80 of 2019 concerning the Acceleration of Economic Development in the Gresik - Bangkalan - Mojokerto - Surabaya - Sidoarjo - Lamongan area, the Bromo - Tengger - Semeru area, as well as the Wilis and Southern Cross Areas, efforts to reactivation of the railway line on Madura Island are included in the seventh priority.

"As the seventh priority, the reactivation of the railway line in Madura according to Presidential Regulation Number 80 of 2019 has received a budget portion of IDR 3.35 trillion," he said in Surabaya as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 21.

Because it has been stipulated in Presidential Regulation Number 80 of 2019, Deputy Governor Emil is optimistic that the reactivation plan for the railroad line on Madura Island will receive the green light from the central government.

"But we also have to see for sure the cycle. Maybe the execution will not be this year. But it will be planned," he said.

Deputy Governor Emil hopes that the acceleration of the reactivation of the railway line in Madura can be strengthened in the 2024-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).

Because of this, the East Java Provincial Government is trying to push the Madura train reactivation plan to become number one, given the impact of strengthening the economy of Madura Island.

"Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has sent a letter to the Ministry of Transportation urging the reactivation of the Madura railway line to accelerate last February," he said.

Deputy Governor Emil explained the problems that were expected to arise in the process of reactivation of the railroad in Madura, one of which was land acquisition. "The reactivation of the railroad line involves 14 stations and 97 bridges. However, there are certain points that need special attention," he said.

Based on a feasibility study conducted by the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) regarding the reactivation of the railway line in Madura, it was recorded that the average rate of preference for the mode of transportation from car to train was 23.90 percent. In addition, from motorbikes to trains, it was 12.04 percent. Meanwhile, from freight transport to trains, it was 32.94 percent.

On the other hand, Madura still has a lot of homework that must continue to be encouraged, such as the unemployment rate and the growth of the economic driving sector.

Deputy Governor Emil explained that the economic structure in Madura is 31 percent of primary agriculture. According to him, the agricultural sector should be able to leverage industry, trade, and mining by 15 percent each.

"But 15 percent of the industry to this day still has not appeared in Madura," he said.

He hopes that efforts to improve transportation infrastructure through the reactivation of railroads in Madura can go hand in hand with the community's readiness to boost economic growth.

"Hopefully this effort can be one of the breakthroughs that can improve the economy of Madura, of course with collaboration that is built between government, religious leaders, and community leaders to develop Madura side by side," he said.