Bali Wants To Have LRT, Wayan Koster Asks Acting Governor Heru Budi To Give Tips For Jakarta's Experience To Build Mass Transportation Modes

Acting Governor Of DKI Heru Budi Hartono With Bali Governor Wayan Koster/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and the Bali Provincial Government have signed cooperation in developing regional potential and improving public services.

One of the main projects of this collaboration is the Bali Provincial Government's plan to build a light rail transit (LRT) train.

Bali Governor I Wayan Koster revealed that his party wanted to ask for input from the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono and his staff so that the construction of the LRT in Bali could be realized.

Wayan admitted that he needed input from Heru regarding the tips of the DKI Provincial Government to build rail-based mass transportation as an effort to reduce congestion.

"We need advice from the Governor of DKI, the experience that has been running in DKI Jakarta in organizing public transportation, especially based on this rail, to contribute to Bali, because Bali needs services for both domestic and regional purposes," said Koster at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Monday, July 10.

The plan is for the LRT to be built in Bali to be prioritized on routes from Ngurah Rai Airport to the parking centers of Kute and Seminyak.

These routes that are passed are areas that are very crowded with tourists and residents and often cause traffic jams.

"Then this will be continued to Canggu. Next to the Sanur route and to the Bali cultural center in Klungkung, including in Ubud. This is indeed a very dense tourist area that cannot be overcome with conventional transportation," said Koster.

Meanwhile, Heru admitted that he was willing to help provide input to the Bali Provincial Government regarding the concept of development to applying for permits for LRT development planning on the Island of the Gods.

Moreover, according to Heru, the current planning for mass transportation development is not as complicated as a few years ago, such as the Jakarta MRT which was initiated since 1996 and only started the construction process in 2012.

"I remember when the MRT started, the declaration in DKI, the protests were extraordinary. Now, I think this is easier. For example, there is an LRT in the central government, for example, the MRT exists. Later, please, which concept is the most suitable in Bali," said Heru.