Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway project progress at 38%
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily: Progres proyek KA Cepat Jakarta-Bandung 38%
30 November 2019
Jakarta – The construction progress of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway has reached 38%. Meanwhile, land acquisition for the project has achieved 99.4%.
“Progress of the high-speed railway has reached 38%. It is currently progressing normally as expected until 2021, which is the schedule for operation,” PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk (Wika) President Director Tumiyana in Jakarta on Friday (29/11).
Wika President Director said that Pertamina’s oil and gas pipe that was on the high-speed railway route had been moved.
“Pertamina has moved the pipe. It only spans three kilometres and they have diverted the pipeline,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wika President Director said that the process of moving PLN’s overhead power lines from the high-speed railway route would be carried out gradually.
“PLN’s overhead power lines are being moved gradually as there are so many,” Tumiyana said.
He explained that Wika provided a time window so that there would be no blackout when the overhead power lines were being moved.
“[All of the implementations] are suited to our needs. All [activities] have been carried out and they are all fine,” he said.
Wika President Director assessed that the establishment of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway task force could accelerate the construction of the project.
“[A task force] is good for accelerating a program. It must be established,”
He revealed that Wika had been a part of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway task force.
“Yes, we are included in the task force as we own the concession for several parts of the progress,” Tumiyana said.
Previously, State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir said that his agency had established a task force for the construction of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway that was set to be operational in 2021.
Erick said that the task force must hold meetings for important issues every two weeks and meetings to discuss financials every month.
He admitted that the team had no hierarchy as it was led by KCIC (Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China) President Director, so ministers and vice ministers were only members of the railway construction acceleration team.
Erick hopes that the task force would accelerate Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway construction so that there are no delays, unlike MRT and LRT.
He said that Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway could not be delayed as it would also be connected to Surabaya.
According to him, if the high-speed railway construction is delayed, it will affect the public’s opportunity to accelerate the economic growth of Indonesia.
DPR (House of Representatives) Commission VI Member Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono said that Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway construction must be on time and it must be operational by 2021, in line with the target that had been set.
Jakarta-Surabaya Medium-Speed Railway
On the other hand, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) also asked Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi to accelerate the construction of Jakarta-Surabaya Medium-Speed Railway to be finished in 2025 rather than 2026.
“The Japanese are trying to accelerate [the construction],” Transportation Minister said.
Transportation Minister Budi said that the investment value of Jakarta-Surabaya Medium-Speed Railway project would increase to be Rp100 trillion, and it was currently in the feasibility study stage.
“[The construction of the project] is expected to commence in 2022 and to finish in 2026. However, the President asked for the construction to be accelerated,” he said.
The Transportation Minister also revealed that the government was currently facing land acquisition problems.
“The problem is land acquisition. It is the responsibility of the regional governments,” the Transportation Minister said.
Meanwhile, the government targets Jakarta-Surabaya Medium Speed Railway construction to commence in 2022. For the initial stage, the construction will be focused on building a new railway route from Jakarta to Cirebon that is set to finish in 2024.
