Economists Call Only 30 Percent Of Cities On The Island Of Java Enjoy Modern Public Transportation

Public transportation (between)

JAKARTA - Transportation Observer of the Soegijapranata Catholic University, Djoko Setijowarno, assesses that the current needs of the people of Java are public transportation feasible in urban and rural areas.

He said the Java island infrastructure was much more advanced than other islands. In recent years, the government has built toll roads that connect Merak to Surabaya and Probolinggo and even cut travel time by up to 50 percent compared to using national roads.

Even so, said Djoko, public transportation on the island of Java is still lagging behind. Of the 30 cities in Java, including Jakarta, only nine cities or about 30 percent have modern public transportation with service purchase schemes.

Of the 85 districts on the island of Java, only four regencies or 4.7 percent have modern public transportation. The four are Banyumas, Bekasi, Tuban and Bangkalan regencies.

The man who was born on May 15, 1964, assessed that this condition shows the importance of focusing on road and rail-based transportation in urban areas.

Bandung and Surabaya, according to him, face severe congestion and urge to have a commuter line network.

"Commuter lines in Greater Bandung and Surabaya can be built soon. Rural pioneer transportation is held on the island of Java," he quoted a written statement, Monday, November 10.

The Deputy Chairperson of the Central Indonesian Transportation Community (MTI) Empowerment and Development Area added that inter-city connectivity in Java has indeed been formed through the Trans Java Toll Road and the double rail line.

However, big problems remain in the intermodal integration stage in urban, rural and residential areas.

"The challenge that has not been resolved is the integration of transportation in urban, rural and residential areas. Therefore, accelerating the improvement of public transportation is very urgent," he stressed.

Furthermore, Djoko also highlighted the financial impact of thefeedingsh high-speed rail project. PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) is said to have to pay off IDR 2.2 trillion in debt by 2025.

"The Fast Train to Surabaya is a wish, even though what we need in Java is a strong and even transportation foundation," he concluded.