Minister Of Transportation Budi Brings Good News To Edy Rahmayadi-Bobby Nasution: World Bank Chooses Medan To Build LRT

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (center) while giving directions to North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi and Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution (Photo: Doc. Kemenhub)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi paid a working visit to Medan on Saturday, May 29 to meet the Governor of North Sumatra, Edy Rahmayadi and the Mayor of Medan, Bobby Nasution, regarding plans for mass transportation development.

"I appreciate the Provincial Government of North Sumatra (North Sumatra) and the City Government (Pemkot) of Medan who are so enthusiastic about making mass transportation the transportation of the future. We discussed trains, Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)," he said in a press statement as quoted from the Ministry of Transportation's website, Sunday, May 30.

According to the Minister of Transportation, to overcome the congestion problem in the city of Medan and its surroundings, it is necessary to develop an integrated mass transportation infrastructure.

“Earlier, the mayor said that on weekdays there is a lot of traffic jams here. Therefore, we want to make mass transportation the main choice for people to move from one place to another, ”he said.

Furthermore, he explained that the planned development of mass transportation facilities would complement a number of existing transportation infrastructure, such as the Kualanamu Airport train.

Then regarding the LRT development plan in the city of Medan, the Minister of Transportation revealed that the capital city of North Sumatra Province would be one of several cities in Indonesia that has modern public facilities.

“We are planning the construction of the LRT and the World Bank chose Medan as an option to develop besides Bandung. Of course, in building this LRT, the lines must complement each other with existing rail transportation," he explained.

Then, regarding the BRT development plan, the Minister of Transportation explained that in the city of Medan, a bus-based mass transportation with the concept of Buy The Service (BTS) will be built which will be subsidized by the government.

"We will carry out the construction of mass transportation in North Sumatra intensively. Soon we will complete the Amplas Type A Terminal in Medan and also a water terminal for water bus transportation to support Lake Toba tourist destinations," he said.

On the same occasion, the Governor of North Sumatra, Edy Rahmayadi, said that the development of mass transportation in North Sumatra is a must in order to keep pace with the population growth rate.

"Through the construction of mass transportation, it is hoped that it can answer the community's need for safe and comfortable public transportation," said Edy Rahmayadi.

Similarly, Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution welcomed the central government's strategic program.

"Let the people of Medan use mass transportation instead of private transportation to prevent congestion," he said.