Erick Thohir Reveals the Reasons for Indonesia Again Choosing China to Build the Surabaya Fast Train

Illustration of Fast Train. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Surabaya high-speed train extension project will be reworked by partners from China.

Previously, China was also Indonesia's partner in building the Jakarta Bandung Fast Train (KCJB).

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir revealed the reasons why Indonesia chose China again. He said that this was due to maintaining the work rhythm and system from the state so that projects could be completed quickly.

"Pak Luhut (Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) has made a statement that we will continue the high-speed train to Surabaya because it is already running. Because if you change countries, change the system, in the end, it will take a long time," Erick told the media, at the JCC, Senayan, written Friday, September 8.

Erick said that the construction of the Surabaya high-speed train aims to accelerate in terms of increasing logistics access through more efficient trains.

In fact, Erick also believes the construction of this high-speed train can reduce the risk of road damage due to the rate of transportation of heavy goods.

“The important thing is acceleration. Because logistics via rail is one that can actually be more efficient. Because if not many provincial roads will continue to be damaged due to the burden of the transportation of goods," he explained.

Erick assessed that so far the damaged roads in the area were caused by the excessive traffic of logistics vehicles carrying heavy goods.

“Indeed, the use of this road is too heavy. If there is rail access and toll roads, everything is connected between provincial roads and other logistics centers," he said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan revealed that China was ready to support the government's plan to continue this project to Surabaya, East Java.

Luhut conveyed this after testing the Jakarta Bandung High-Speed ​​Train with Chinese Prime Minister (PM) Li Qiang, on Wednesday, September 6. Both of them tried out the mode of transportation from Halim Station to Karawang Station.

"We had a discussion with the Chinese PM about the Fast Train, regarding the prospect of a fast train going to Surabaya according to the direction of the President (Jokowi). "I saw that he was very pragmatic and ready to cooperate," he said.

For your information, the plan to connect KCJB to Surabaya will utilize the transfer of technology and materials produced domestically so that it can help create jobs.

Luhut said, currently the government is conducting studies related to plans to connect the fast train route to Surabaya.

"We are still studying," he said.