Bali to Build LRT by Learning from Jakarta, Wayan Koster Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, stated that he planned to build rail-based public transportation to alleviate traffic congestion in Badung and Denpasar Regency. The provincial government had therefore cooperate with the Jakarta government and PT MRT Jakarta.

Koster expressed gratitude to Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono for the partnership, “with the support of Bapak Bappenas Minister (Suharso Monoarfa) and Bapak Transportation Minister (Budi Karya Sumadi),” he said at the Jakarta City Hall on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Koster visited the capital city today to sign a cooperation agreement with the Jakarta government and PT MRT Jakarta.

According to him, Bali must learn from Jakarta regarding public transportation services. Having a 5,646 square kilometer area and a population of 4.3 million, or a population density of 700 people per square kilometer, rail-based transportation is necessary in a bid to ease gridlocks.

“Tourist areas such as Badung and Denpasar, especially Kuta and Sanur until Ubud, are highly congested,” the Governor said.

The development of public transportation is expected to make Bali a comfortable destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. In 2019, Koster said 17 million foreign nationals visited the island of the Gods. 

“Bali is also a place for national and international events, so we have to provide good public services,” he added.

The feasibility study of Bali LRT will be completed in 2023

Head of the Bali Transportation Agency IGW Samsi Gunarta said the feasibility study for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in the province will be completed this year. The city administration will then discuss the financing.

Gunarta said that the LRT will stretch a total of 9.4 kilometers. The agency has conducted a feasibility study for the route from Kuta Central Parking until Seminyak and will launch a similar study for the route from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport to Kuta Central Parking.

“[There will be] underground tracks from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport to Kuta Central Parking and elevated tracks from Kuta Central Parking to Seminyak. But it is still being discussed, calculated, whether there will be underground or elevated tracks because we don't want to disrupt the traffic,” Gunarta talked of the Bali LRT project as quoted from Antara on May 23, 2023.

MUTIA YUANTISYA

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