Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail Expected to Operate in 2023: President Jokowi

President Jokowi on Monday (01/17) inspected the construction of Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail (KCJB) on Monday (01/17) in Purwakarta, West Java. (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday (01/17) inspected the construction of Jakarta-Bandung high speed Rail (KCJB).

“As of today, 79.9 percent of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail construction has been completed. We hope [the high-speed rail] will be tested by the end of 2022 and will be operated in June 2023,” the President said.

The President expressed hope that the operation of the mass transportation mode will be able to reduce congestion and accelerate mobility of people and goods.

“We hope that the completion of the Jakarta-Bandung high speed rail will reduce congestion in Jakarta and Bandung, as well as accelerate the mobility of people and goods. And we hope that it will improve our competitiveness,” he said.

The President stated that the construction of Tunnel 2 requires meticulous work because of the contours of the land.

“During the construction (of the Tunnel 2) there are problems, technical problems, that we have to solve. President Director of KCIC, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, and Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing have told me that the [construction of] the second tunnel is running a bit slower, because the contour of the land require meticulous work,” the President remarked. (FID/UN) (RI/LW)