Bey Machmudin Ensures The Greater Bandung LRT Project Is IDR 26 Trillion Not Using The APBD, Tegalluar-Leuwipanjang-Dago Route

Acting Governor of West Java Bey Viki Machmudin gave a statement at the Sate Bandung building, Tuesday (3/10/2023). (ANTARA/Ricky Prayoga)

Acting Governor of West Java BeyMachmudin said the Bandung Raya Integrated Highway (LRT) light train for the initial stage of the North-South Bandung route worth IDR 10.9 trillion will not use funds from the West Java Provincial Budget.

"Siliwangi's visit to Leuwi Panjang is the beginning. What is certain is not the APBD, maybe hopefully the APBN can," said BeyMachmudin at the Sate Bandung building as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 3.

The budget, said Bey, has been approved by President Joko Widodo, it is only a matter of West Java Provincial Government preparing detailed technicales which he said had been carried out a lot. Therefore, he wants the laying of the first stone to be done immediately.

"I want the 'ground breaking' to be carried out immediately, because there are too many studies. So it's just a 'ground breaking', and yesterday President Joko Widodo with a budget of Rp. 10.9 trillion has agreed, it's just a technical detail that must be prepared," said Bey.

Therefore, he asked the elected Acting (Pj) Regional Secretary of West Java, Muhammad Taufiq Budi Santoso as much as possible to coordinate with the central government in realizing the project.

"That's why I ask the Secretary of State as much as possible if the stages run smoothly, next week maybe with the Ministry of Transportation, next week with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, then with the Ministry of Finance to discuss it," said Bey.

He said the North-South LRT of Bandung City, which he said would be integrated with the existing KRD route which was electrified for the West-East (Leuwipanjang-Tegalluar) route, needed assistance from the central level that had built the MRT.

"This will provide assistance such as MRT, because the problem is almost the same, so there are lessons that can be applied there so that it can be faster. Including land problems," he said.

This project, Bey said, is expected to change the travel pattern in Greater Bandung from private vehicles to public transportation considering that currently mass transportation in Greater Bandung such as trains, lacks interest from the public.

"So he said, why not use it too much, because the time interval (schedule) is still far away, we want it to be like that train, once every hour or like the Jabodetabek KRL ( every 15 minutes)," he said.

Previously, the West Java Transportation Service (Dishub) said the construction of the LRT in Greater Bandung was targeted to start in 2027.

"The target is to start construction from our timeline in 2027 or 2028," said Head of West Java Transportation Agency Koswara when met at Bandung Station, Monday (2/9).

The LRT line will begin to be built with two priority corridors, namely the Tegalluar-Leuwipanjang and Leuwipanjang-Dago routes by spending Rp26 trillion in funds.

"So approximately IDR 13 trillion for one corridor, including infrastructure and facilities," said Koswara.