AHY Reveals The Continuation Of The Jakarta Fast Train Surabaya As A Special Task From Prabowo

Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development (Menko GPA) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY). (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development (Menko GPA) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) admitted that he received special tasks from President Prabowo Subianto.

AHY said the task was President Prabowo asking that the plan to build the Jakarta Fast Train in Surabaya be continued.

This is because the construction of this high-speed train is considered to be a driving force for increasing community mobility, especially in Java.

This increase in mobility is expected to be able to support economic growth in an area.

"Regarding connectivity, there is a special task from the President to us. The Coordinating Ministry for GPA (requested) to oversee the development of the concept of the sustainability of the high-speed train. So it is not only Jakarta, Bandung, it is hoped that it will reach Surabaya," said AHY when opening the Coordinating Meeting for the Evaluation of Progress and Achievement of Strategic Issues for Infrastructure and Regional Development in 2025 at the Coordinating Ministry for IPK Office, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 13.

In addition, according to AHY, the construction of the Jakarta 'Surabaya high-speed train is also able to create new economic hubs. Especially, for areas that will later be crossed by the Fast Train station.

"This is one of the game changers of human mobility and goods, and services that are much faster connected through a high speed rail system and ecosystem. This includes the development of a new hub," he said.

"The point is how this can accelerate the mobility of our people on the island of Java," he concluded.

Previously, the Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi opened his voice regarding the fate of the Jakarta Fast Train project "Surabaya". He said the government did plan to continue construction until Surabaya.

"That there is a desire to extend it. Yes, there is a suggestion that we continue from Bandung to Surabaya," he told reporters in Jakarta, written Thursday, July 10.

Dudy also claimed to have offered several potential investors for the development of the project.

Some of the options offered include continuing routes from Bandung to Surabaya, or building new routes from Jakarta directly to Surabaya with a semi-fast train system.

"There is indeed talk, however, it must go through a careful study, yes. Because on several occasions we offer semi-fast," he explained.

Namun, Dudy mengatakan, belum ada keputusan final terkait dengan kelanjutan proyek tersebut. Meksi begitu, dia bilang, proyek itu bisa dilanjut asalkan tidak menggunakan anggaran pendapatan dan belanja negara (APBN).

However, Dudy said, there had been no final decision regarding the continuation of the project. Even so, he said, the project could be continued as long as it did not use the state budget (APBN).