President Jokowi: Bogor-Sukabumi Double Track Railway to be Constructed This Year

President Jokowi answers the reporters’ questions in Sukabumi, West Java, Friday (1/9).

The construction of the Bogor-Sukabumi double track railway will begin this year as the budget has been allocated. This was enunciated by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo after performing the Eid al Adha prayer at the Merdeka Field, Sukabumi, on Friday, 1 September 2017.

“The project is feasible and we will immediately start construction. The budget is approximately Rp400 billion (USD30 million),” the President said.

Considering the magnitude of benefits for accelerated mobility of people and goods, the President said he would continue the project up to Cianjur and Bandung. The project will start next year and finish by 2019. “I have ordered to be surveyed from Sukabumi to Cianjur, then extended to Bandung. The total revitalization is observed as well, the project will start by 2019,” the President said.

In addition, the President also explained about the construction of the Bogor-Ciawi-Sukabumi toll road which should have started in 1996. However, at that time, the investor did not immediately start the construction, so finally the President decided that the project was taken over and handled by State-owned Enterprises. “In shaa Allah, it will complete in two years ahead, I will check it,” the President said as quoted in a press release by Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin.

Based on the reports received, currently the distance from Jakarta to Sukabumi takes quite a long time up to nine hours. Therefore, the President ordered his staff to immediately address the problem. “We will ease the traffic congestion, so I ordered that the construction of the Bocimi toll road be accelerated,” the President said.

As for an airport construction in Sukabumi, the President stated that he would not reveal the location the airport would be built. “If I tell you, then the price of the land will increase. I will tell you later,” the President said.

Concluding his statement, the President conveyed his impression of the city of Sukabumi. According to him, Sukabumi is a big city inhabited by a friendly society and has a distinctive culinary that has a high taste. “It is a big city, it is very crowded during the night, the people are friendly. And the food is delicious, the grilled fish is so good,” the President concluded.

Also accompanying the President and First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo during the visit were Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan and Sukabumi Mayor Mohamad Muraz. (BPMI/EN) (MUR/YM/Naster).