DPR: Ciranjang-Cipatat Train Helps Cianjur Community Out Of Isolated Areas

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

JAKARTA - Member of Commission V DPR Neng Eem Marhamah Zulfa Hiz said the reactivation of the Cianjur-Ciranjang-Cipatat railway line, which is the second segment of the Cianjur-Padalarang train line reactivation program, has had a very positive impact on Cianjur residents.

"The Cianjur-Cipatat community is eagerly awaiting the operation of the Cianjur-Cipatat area," he said, during the inauguration ceremony for the operation of the Ciranjang-Cipatat train which was broadcast virtually, Monday, September 21.

Neng said, Cianjur is an area flanked by big cities, namely the capital city of DKI Jakarta and the capital city of West Java province Bandung. However, the citizens seemed terioslasi.

Furthermore, Neng said, so far, access for Cianjur residents who wish to travel to and from Jakarta, Bandung and Sukabumi has been hampered because of the large number of buses that pass, which causes the travel time to be much longer.

"But it seems as if we are isolated here, sir. Why? Because we get stuck in traffic, Sir, going to Jakarta is normal for 3-4 hours. If it is not normal, it could be more than that. Going to Bandung is the same, now Ciranjang is jammed because there factories and so on. Likewise to Sukabumi traffic jams due to lots of buses and so on. So we are almost isolated from doing activities, so we often spend time wasting on the road to do mobility, "he said.

For that, Neng said, reactivation of the Ciranjang-Cipatat railway line will increase mobility. That way it can make residents not isolated and hampered from going to Bandung, Sukabumi, and its surroundings.

"This is something that is valuable for the people of Cianjur because of course in addition to improving the economy, mobility will also be more effective," he said.

On the same occasion, the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumardi said that his party had partnered with several universities to make a breakthrough in the transportation sector to overcome congestion in the Puncak area.

"I also report Mrs. Eem, the Ministry of Transportation is discussing with ITB to solve the traffic in Puncak. We want to ask ITB and maybe we divert mass transportation. Now if it is mostly diverted to mass transportation, I think the peak is not congested and my mother returns to Cianjur. that's fast ma'am, "he said.

Not only that, according to Budi, people who own villas or inns on the Puncak-Cianjur route will be provided with buses to transport their guests.

"If this works, it won't be jammed anymore, so it will be a good route to Cianjur. Even later for those who have villas, we will also provide the bus," he said.

Budi considered the inauguration of the Ciranjang-Cipatat railway line very positive. This is because the connectivity between Jakarta, Bogor, Sukabumi, Cianjur and Bandung will be combined.

"I think we must always try to do development well and benefit the community. But stick to good health protocols," he said.

For your information, the reactivation of the Ciranjang-Cipatat railway is a continuation of the Cianjur-Ciranjang railroad reactivation project which has been completed and operational in 2019. Lintas Ciranjang-Cipatat is the second segment of the planned three-segment reactivation program for the Cianjur-Padalarang Railway line.

The first segment is the 15-kilometer Cianjur-Ciranjang route, the 15-kilometer Ciranjang-Cipatat segment, and the 13.8-kilometer Cipatat-Padalarang segment. The third segment has very difficult geographic conditions, a very high gradient and is currently still under a tract study, which is expected to begin construction in 2022.