Pursuing The Target, DJKA Is Optimistic That The First Railway Line In South Sulawesi Will Operate In October 2022

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) is committed to providing the first railway infrastructure on the island of Sulawesi.

The railway line is targeted to operate in October 2022.

Currently, the construction has also entered the third segment which has reached an average of above 84 percent.

As for the route in the Maros Regency area and 94 percent for the Pangkep Regency area.

Head of the South Sulawesi Railway Management Center Andi Amanna Gappa said the completion of the construction of the railway line is still on schedule and is optimistic that it will be operated in October.

"We express our appreciation to the community and all parties who have participated and supported the construction of this railway line," said Gappa, in a written statement, Friday, June 3.

Gappa said the support of the community and local government had an important role in realizing development, given the long process of completing land acquisition.

Gappa also said that currently his party has completed the construction of the line for Segment I of 16.1 KM, Segment II of 26.1 KM, and is currently in the process of completing Segment III of 67.1 KM from Pangkep Regency to Maros Regency.

"Besides the construction of the mainline line, a 4.7 km long siding track for access to the integrated port station at Garongkong is also being built and a 9.7 km siding track to Tonasa is being built by the PPP," he said.

Gappa explained that the construction of the siding track in this project is intended to provide access from production centers to the port in order to encourage economic growth in the local area.

This is because the Maros-Barru area has considerable economic potential.

In May 2022 it was reported that the potential for cement that can be transported is 6,000 to 10,000 tons per month from Tonasa and nearly 3.5 million tons per year from Bosowa to Garongkong Port by train.

In addition to the potential for cement transportation, Gappa said, this railway line is also expected to maximize tourism potential in the Maros-Barru area. "This area is famous for geopark tourism, beaches, and culinary delights which have the potential to attract tourists if connected by train," he said.

Gappa said, it is hoped that when this line is operated in October 2022, it can stimulate economic growth for the surrounding community. The operation of the Makassar-Parepare Phase I railway line in October 2022 will be opened for passenger transportation on the Barru Station section to Marros Station along 71 km, and for goods transportation on the Ramang-Ramang Station section to Garongkong Station along 80 km.

Gradually, Gappa continued, the operation will continue for freight transportation on the 57 km Tonasa-Garongkong section and for passenger transportation on the Palanro Station to Mandai Station section along 102 km in March 2023.

"Currently we are still focusing on the completion of segment 3 for the Pangkep-Maros segment, hopefully in this budget year it can be completed and immediately operated so that it can be continued with land acquisition activities to build a railway line to Makassar City," he said.