Gov’t to Speed Up Integrated Transport Development in Bandung

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi and Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil deliver a statement in a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday (08/03). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi has announced plan to speed up the implementation of integrated transportation plan in Bandung metropolitan area.

“The President has ordered us to review the plan and we have one month to review it,” Budi said in Jakarta, Thursday (08/03).

According to him, not less than three modes of mass transportation will be prepared to serve residents in the metropolitan, including the integrated highway (LRT), Bandung rapid transit (BRT), and cable cars.

Budi also pointed out that the mass transport development will be funded by the Central Government, the regional governments, and the private sector through public-private partnership (PPP), adding that the Government also aims to develop integrated transportation systems in other priority areas.

“Other priority areas include Jakarta, Medan, Semarang, Surabaya and Makassar. Ministry of Transportation and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) are initiating a loan from the World Bank for the projects in Medan and Bandung and a loan from Germany for the projects in Semarang and Surabaya” he said.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil applauded the Central Government for the support in developing mass transport in the metropolitan area, adding that the regional budget alone is not enough for covering all mass transportation projects.

“To date, only 13 percent of Bandung residents use public transportation and we aim to make it 50 percent. The cost is high, but it must be done because the longer it is delayed, the more expensive it will be,” Ridwan said. (TGH/FID/UN) (RI/EP)