TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta – Bandung fast train is set to be Southeast Asia’s first after it is scheduled to be fully operable by the year 2021. The project that is handled by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) has set a goal to complete 59.78 percent by the end of 2019.

KCIC President Director Chandra Dwi Putra said that progress of the construction amounts to 17.38 percent and will be further boosted by additional workforces and massive tools mobilization to reach its year-end goal.

Read: Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train Project Backtrack, Operational in 2021

Chandra explained that the construction during the first semester could not be optimized due to weather issues and the hectic Indonesia election.

“The 59 percent progress include structural projects, which includes tunnel 4 in Purwakarta and Walini tunnel that is set to be completed in year’s end,” said Chandra at Walini in West Bandung on Tuesday.

Overall, the 142 kilometers railway will pass 13 train tunnels. The Walini tunnel is 608 meters in length with a width of 12 meters.

The company has also tested its tunnel boring machine installed at the Jakarta – Cikampek toll road after it was directly sent from China. The fast train project is designed to cut the travel time from Jakarta to Bandung from 3-hours to just 45 minutes.

BISNIS