VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi met with the South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, Tae Sung Park, on Monday to discuss cooperation in the construction of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) infrastructure in Bali.

During the meeting, they also discussed collaboration in the development of Phase 4 of MRT Jakarta’s Fatmawati – Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) route.

“Today, I have a meeting with the South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, discussing opportunities for cooperation in the development of transportation infrastructure in Indonesia, and we welcome South Korea's desire to be involved in the construction of trains in Bali and Jakarta," said Sumadi here on Monday.

To develop rail infrastructure in the province, the Bali government has collaborated with South Korea through the Korea National Railway to prepare a pre-feasibility study on the planned construction of the 9.46-km Ngurah Rai Airport - Seminyak route of the LRT, the minister informed.

Based on the study, the LRT development plan will be divided into two phases, he informed. Phase 1-A will cover the 5.3-km Airport - Central Park Station route, while Phase 1-B will cover the 4.16-km Central Park-Seminyak Station route, he added.

The Bali government and Korea National Railway are still reviewing the LRT construction plan for the second phase of the Seminyak-Mengwitani route, Sumadi disclosed.

"Regarding the LRT development plan in Bali, the Bali provincial government has proposed a financing cooperation for the preparation of a feasibility study with South Korea through a grant scheme. However, based on suggestions from the National Development Agency (Bappenas), we still have to wait for Bappenas to complete the preparation of the Urban Mobility Plan by the end of 2021," he said.

South Korea has also expressed a desire to cooperate in the construction of MRT Jakarta’s Phase 4 Fatmawati - TMII route, the minister added.

According to the results of a pre-feasibility study conducted by PT MRT Jakarta in 2020, MRT’s Fatmawati - TMII route is needed to improve urban mass transit services, he said.

During Monday’s meeting Sumadi and Park also discussed plans for other projects, such as the Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, the use of electric cars, the development of the coal transportation railway line in Sumbagsel (Lahat - Tarahan), and the railway line in Central Kalimantan (Purukcahu) - Bangkuang).

The meeting was attended by several representatives from the Republic of South Korea, including infrastructure and transportation attaché, Mr. Dongjin Kim, chief representative of Korea National Railway (KRNA), Sunghi Cho, deputy chief representative of Korea Exim Bank (KEXIM) Daehee Kim.

The secretary general of the Indonesian Transportation Ministry, Djoko Sasono, director general of railways, Zulfikri, and head of the Jabodetabek Transportation Management Agency, Polana B. Pramesti, were also present at the meeting. (Antaranews)