Benefit from the Jakarta-Bandung fast train project
Reporter: Handoyo | Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie
BANDUNG. Although there are still many rejections from several groups, the Government and PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) do not seem to be budging. The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project is continuing and improvements to the construction permit requirements are also being accelerated to meet the completion target.
At the end of last week, at a hotel in Bandung, several parties from the central government, local governments, KCIC and academics conducted a socialization on the value of the benefits that would be obtained if the Jakarta-Bandung fast train project was running.
It is claimed that the operation of the Jakarta-Bandung fast train will provide positive benefits. With this project, the economy of the people through the fast train line will be lifted. In fact, for the West Java government, the development of this mass transportation project will bring new economic points.
“The Jakarta-Bandung fast train is President Jokowi’s overall vision. With an open economy like the MEA, there are no limits to vertical traffic. We must move quickly with other ASEAN countries,” said BUMN Minister Rini Soemarno.
Rini noted that there are several benefits that will be obtained by the construction of this fast train line. Besides having an impact on the community’s economy, this project will also raise the tourism sector. This high-speed train project is also labor intensive, because it requires a lot of labor.
In the agreement with the Chinese side, there will be a guarantee of knowledge transfer provided to Indonesian workers. The majority of this project will also be carried out by domestic workers. Specifically for construction only, the workforce required reaches 39,000 workers.
“One of the negotiations with the Chinese side will be given a transfer of technology. 60% of the work is done in Indonesia,” said Rini. In fact, if this project goes ahead, the construction process for rail cars will be carried out domestically. One of the options chosen for the location is Purwakarta.
Quality of life improves
In her speech, Rini also mentioned that when the fast train project is completed, the quality of life of the community will improve. He compared, if using public transportation which can reach three hours of travel, then with this fast train, Jakarta-Bandung can be reached in only 35 minutes.
President Director of PT KCIC Hanggoro Budi Wiryawan said that his party is currently preparing a Feasibility Study (FS) regarding this factory. The area of land to be built as a location for the carriages is up to 500 hectares (ha).
To be able to realize this additional project, PT KCIC will form a subsidiary. “It will joint venture, between KCIC and PT Pilar Sinergi BUMN, “said Rini. The subsidiary of PT KCIC which will operate the carriage factory will involve several BUMNs, such as PT Inka (Persero) and also PT Len (Persero).
However, West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan hopes that the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung fast train can be synergized with the light rail line or light rail transit (LRT). This is because with the route to be built, public access is still limited.
However, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) is already preparing to conduct a PTUN (State Administrative Court) for this project. “We are still waiting for the results of the draft EIA,” said Dwiretnastuti, Deputy of West Java Walhi.
It is known that the plan to build the Jakarta-Bandung train will start from Halim, then head to Karawang, then to Walini, and to Tegal Luar. These cities are as transit oriented development (TOD) with a rail length of about 142.3 kilometers.
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