Airlangga Hartarto: The Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train Project Is Extended To Surabaya

Illustration. (Photo: Twitter @KeretaCepatID)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto confirmed that the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train project, which construction had stopped, will be continued again. The assurance was obtained after a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)

"The Jakarta-Bandung fast train program, the direction of the President of the fast train is continued," he said, in a video conference with journalists, Friday, May 29.

Airlangga said Jokowi had also instructed the Jakarta to Bandung megaproject to be integrated or extended to Surabaya, East Java.

"The plan is from Jakarta-Bandung, Bandung-Surabaya. So of course the SOE Minister will follow up later," he explained.

The development progress along the #keretacepat project line continues, including tunnel construction. Did you know, friend, of the 13 high-speed train tunnels, 8 of them are currently being built massively and 1 tunnel has been completed .. # keretacepatindonesia #kcjb pic.twitter.com/LGhiNvIefX

- Fast Train (F) May 15, 2020

This project was carried out by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), which is a consortium of a number of Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and China Railways.

Even so, Airlangga was reluctant to reveal the plan to connect the Bandung-Surabaya fast train whether it was a new project or not. Including the investment value is still a secret.

"The Minister of BUMN will be reviewed, both regarding the consortium members as well as the route and total projects," he said.

For your information, the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train project was also temporarily stopped because there were six mistakes made by KCIC in working on it. This is based on a letter signed by Plt. Director General of Construction and Chairman of the Construction Safety Committee Danis H. Sumadilaga. One of the mistakes is that the project development is considered to pay less attention to the smooth access to and from toll roads.