Minister Of Transportation Budi Karya: KCJB Extension Line To Surabaya Tends To Cross South Java

Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said the extension of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train (KCJB) to Surabaya, East Java tends to pass through cities in the southern region of Java. "So we tend to pass south but of course it is based on a study," Budi said, quoted from Antara, Thursday, September 14. Budi said, the Ministry of Transportation will conduct further studies to determine cities that will be routes from the extension of the KCJB route to Surabaya. Previously, the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Railways programed the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train (KCJB) to Surabaya by passing through Yogyakarta. "The name remains the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train, but later we will continue to program this train until Surabaya passes through Yogyakarta," said Director General of Railways Mohamad Risal Wasal in a Hearing Meeting of Commission V DPR RI in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 5. Meanwhile, on a separate occasion, President Joko Widodo said that the extension of the KCJB to Surabaya route would grow new economic points along the area it crosses.

"This is for southern Java. North Java has already made toll roads. To grow new economic points," said the President at Padalarang Station, Bandung, West Java on Wednesday, September 13. Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project was designated as one of the government's National Strategic Projects in Presidential Regulation Number 3 of 2016 concerning the Acceleration of National Strategic Projects..