TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Japanese government is ready to finance Jakarta-Surabaya railway revitalization project. It has also shown interest to conduct a feasibility study and become the operator of the project. “We are interested indeed, but we have yet to receive an official offer from the Indonesian government,” Kennichi Takeyama, Information Director, Japanese Embassy, told Tempo yesterday.
The idea for revitalization was conveyed by President Joko Widodo during his visit to Japan end of last month. There has not been any further contact to date, Takayama noted. “There has not been any real discussion [on Jakarta-Surabaya rail project]. The talks was only at the early stage,” he said.
The revitalization project is aimed at improving travel time of Jakarta-Surabaya train up to 150 km per hour. It is expected to cut the travel time to merely 6-7 hours. It include changes in railway type, railway gauge as well as telecommunication and electrical signals.
Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan said that no study has been done on the railway revitalization project. Moreover, the Indonesian government has yet to discuss it further with the Japanese government. “If Japan is interested, we should talk,” he said.
Last week, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yasuaki Tanizaki paid a visit to Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimoejono to talk about the revitalization project. According to Basuki, Japan explained that to reach the speed of 150 km per hour, underpasses and overpasses would be needed at all level corssings. “It’s impossible to elevate the train [tracks].”
President Director of state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Edi Sukmoro estimated that there are 1,000 level crossing along Jakarta-Surabaya railway, which include official and unofficial level crossings.
According to Edi, the project might not be financed by Japan. So far, the government has yet to hold further talks about the plan with the KAI as the operator.
ALI HIDAYAT
