TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hermanto Dwiatmoko, Transportation Ministry’s Director General for Railways, said that land clearing for Papua rail project of Sorong-Manokwari lane would be carried out this year. According to him, Transportation Ministry has completed the project’s feasibility studies.
“Land acquisition will be carried out this year,” he said at the premise of Industry Ministry, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. The length of Sorong – Manokwari lane would be 300 kilometers.
Previously, President Joko Widodo calls for construction of railway infrastructure in Papua to commence this year. Jokowi wants Papua railway project to be implemented at least in the second semester, if not in the first semester.
Hermanto said that Transportation Ministry plans to allocate a budget of Rp10 billion for the first stage of land clearing. The budget allocation is included in 2016 revised state budget (APBN-P).
He estimated that the budget would be sufficient to fund the 10-kilometer-long land clearing. “(Budget) for land initiation first. It would be difficult if it fails to be absorbed,” he said.
ALI HIDAYAT
