TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Transportation on Monday ensured that the government's plan to construct the high-speed rail connecting Java Island’s Jakarta and Surabaya will no longer be mere wishful thinking.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, Adita Irawati, explained that the project had been discussed with other ministries which include the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment.

"It's not merely a discourse, this [the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed railway] has been seriously discussed. The leading ministry is the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment," he said when contacted on Monday, October 31.

Adita did not answer when asked about the feasibility study and how much the mega project would cost in terms of investments. However, she confirmed that the construction of it is in the discussion stage.

Previously, the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, showed optimism that the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed rail project could be realized. He reflected on the construction of the Jakarta MRT, which was doubted by many but ended up being a project that is tangibly felt by many.

Budi Karya elaborated that the routes or cities that will be passed by the high-speed rail will be Jakarta, Karawang, Bandung, Kertajati, Purwokerto, Jogja, Solo, Madiun, and Surabaya. This train journey is estimated to only take 4 hours.

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI

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