Kaltara Railway Re-emerges, Bertius: This Project is Pure Private Investment

TANJUNG SELOR - The plan to build a railway network in North Kalimantan (Kaltara) has resurfaced.

This time, the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of North Maluku ensures that the strategic project will be developed through a private investment scheme without using the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) or the State Budget (APBN).

Head of the Regional Planning, Research and Innovation Agency (Bapperida) of North Maluku, Bertius said that the construction of railways is part of efforts to accelerate inter-regional connectivity as well as supporting regional economic growth.

"The central government has given directions for the construction of the train to be carried out through private investment while coordinating with PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI)," said Bertius, Tuesday, June 2.

"This is purely private investment, not using the Regional Budget or the State Budget. The local government supports it because it is in line with the need for increased connectivity and economic development in Kaltara," he continued.

Bertius explained that from the perspective of project planning, this train is not a new idea. Previously, the Provincial Government had a railway masterplan since 2015. The document has even been included in the National Railway Master Plan (RIPNas) 2030 and has gone through the stages of feasibility study (feasibility study/FS) and detailed engineering design (DED).

"However, as the industrial area develops and the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) is present, a number of planning documents need to be updated to match current needs and conditions," he explained.

He revealed that the investor who currently expressed interest in developing the project was PT Indonesia Transit Synergy (INTRA).

"The company has presented an investment plan of Rp20 trillion to Rp25 trillion to the Provincial Government and the Kaltara DPRD," he said.

In addition to presenting a new mode of transportation, this project is projected to be able to absorb around 2,000 local workers during the construction phase.

"In the concept that is being discussed, the railway network will connect a number of strategic areas in Kaltara, ranging from Tanjung Selor, Bulungan, Tana Tidung, Malinau to Nunukan," he said.

The line is expected to be a transportation solution that can accelerate the mobility of people and goods in the border area. Not only that, the Kaltara railway network is also projected to be integrated with the Kalimantan transportation network and connected to IKN through East Kalimantan.

"In the long-term vision, connectivity is even directed to Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam," he explained.

Bertius said that one of the corridors that began to attract attention was the Tanah Kuning-Mangkupadi corridor in Bulungan Regency. This corridor is considered strategic because it is located in an industrial and port area that is rapidly developing.

The existence of a railway in the area is believed to be able to reduce logistics costs, accelerate the distribution of goods, and increase the competitiveness of investment in Kaltara.

"Currently, the government is still updating the master plan, reviewing the legal aspects of cooperation, drafting a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with investors, and coordinating with the Ministry of Transportation and PT KAI," he said.

Even though it has not entered the physical development phase, Bertius is optimistic that the project can continue to move forward and become one of the major breakthroughs in infrastructure development on Earth.

"Hopefully, the train can be a lever for economic growth, strengthen inter-regional connectivity, reduce logistics costs, and open up greater investment opportunities for Kaltara,"