Gov’t to Revamp 500 Railroad Crossings for Jakarta-Surabaya Semi-Fast Train
Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono witnesses the signing of agreement of the Java Northline Upgrading Project, in Jakarta. (Ministry of Transportation Public Relations/ES)
In a bid to support the Java Northline Upgrading Project, a project to develop semi fast train connecting Jakarta and Surabaya between the Government of Indonesia and the Government of Japan, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing on behalf of the Government of Indonesia will clean up 500 railways and railroad crossings.
“We were assigned to revamp or clean up approximately 500 level crossings along the Jakarta-Surabaya semi-fast railroad crossings,” Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said after witnessing the signing of the Jakarta-Surabaya semi-fast railroad development agreement, in Jakarta, on Tuesday (24/9).
Basuki added that his ministry will build flyover, underpass, and pedestrian bridges. The Ministry will also revamp roads surrounding the railways by using local contents to cut construction cost and time.
“To build the Antapani Flyover, the Ministry will use Corrugated Mortar Busa Pusjatan (CMP) Technology which saves the budget up to 70 percent than regular technology and can cut construction time by six months. Another local content to be used in the projects is precast concrete girder which is produced by a local enterprise. There will be more local contents in the project,” he explained.
The Minister went on to say that the construction of underpass, flyover, and pedestrian bridges may begin in 2020 after Feasibility Study (FS) of that semi-fast train which has been carried out since 2017 is completed by the Indonesia’s counterpart. Flyover will be built for level crossing in urban area, whereas underpass will be built in rural areas.
“After the study is completed, physical construction will be conducted for 2 to 3 years. This train will improve connectivity in Java Island since it will connect the Capital City Jakarta with Merak, Demak, Semarang, Kudus, and Surabaya. It will also connect Cileunyi, Garut, Tasik, Cilacap, Jogja, and Solo,” he added.
On that occasion, the Minister also conveyed his appreciation to all parties who are involved in this project. He added that the project is a breakthrough for railway services in Indonesia.
According to the Minister, the investment value of the project is estimated at Rp60 trillion, in which the construction will be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), while the land acquisition process will be financed by the Indonesian Government.
The Government estimates the train connecting Jakarta and Cirebon to be operated by 2024 which will be followed by other segments so that Jakarta-Surabaya can be connected by 2025. “We expect the train will shorten the travel time from Jakarta to Surabaya to 5 hours and 30 minutes, or decreases by 3.5 hours,” the Minister added. (Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing/ES)
Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Mia Medyana Bonaedy
