President Jokowi: Public Transportation Development Comes Late

President Joko Widodo hoped that after railway operation regional competitiveness would be enhanced. The products of Sulawesi will also be more competitive.

TANGKAPAN LAYAR

President Joko Widodo inaugurated the first railway line in Sulawesi, Wednesday (29/3/2023). The trans-Sulawesi rail line, which is operational, crosses Maros Station, Maros Regency, to Garongkong Station, Barru Regency, South Sulawesi.

MAROS, KOMPAS — On nearly all islands, in cities, especially capital cities, we have been late in building public transportation, mass transportation. Consequently, traffic congestion has prevailed on the roads in various parts of Indonesia.

The statement was made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo when inaugurating the operation of the Maros-Barru railway and the Maros Railway Services Depot at Maros Depot, Maros regency, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday (29/3/2023). “In fact, it [public transportation] is a very basic means of interprovincial, intercity and inter-regency connection,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony were Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi and Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

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The President added that railways constituted basic facilities so that they ought to be built. Without railway infrastructure people will be using private vehicles. Furthermore, the conveyance of goods also has to pass through highways.

Traffic jams have thus occurred in Jakarta; Bandung, West Java; Surabaya, East Java; Semarang, Central Java; as well as Makassar, South Sulawesi, as a result of the late construction of public transportation facilities. The President described Jakarta as having been 30 years late in preparing public transportation.

This is the choice we can offer to the public, to entrepreneurs, to make use of the railway route we have built.

President Jokowi very much appreciated the railway route development that had begun in South Sulawesi. He hoped that after this railway operation regional competitiveness would be enhanced. The products of Sulawesi will also be more competitive. Goods are carried by a low-cost and higher-capacity means of transportation.

“This is the choice we can offer to the public, to entrepreneurs, to make use of the railway route we have built,” said Jokowi.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Passengers who are school students look for seats in the passenger cabin before the trial trip for the Maros - Garongkong route which is the initial phase of the Makassar - Parepare railway project, Tuesday (10/1/2023).

The President signaled the inauguration by pushing the siren button and signing a commemorative plaque. Besides, the President also boarded the train leading to Rammang-Rammang Station. At this station, the President inspected its facilities and the stands of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Thereafter, he proceeded to Pajukukang village to have a dialogue with fishermen.

On the previous day, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi checked the railway track, the Maros Railway Services Depot, and tried the electric diesel railcar (KRDE) built by PT Inka. Budi hoped the President would not only officially open the railway route but could also watch the beauty of nature in Ramang-Ramang.

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He explained that the Makassar-Parepare railway project was part of the development of the Trans-Sulawesi Railway and became one of the national strategic projects. Of a total length of 145 kilometers of the Makassar-Parepare railway, 120 km have been built. The route ready for operation spans 80 km from Maros Station in Makassar to Garongkong Station in Barru regency. It is this route that was inaugurated by President Jokowi.

The route of Maros Station-Garongkong Station started operation from November 2022. Until March 2023, the railway transported 25,699 people with an average occupancy rate of 78.02 percent of the capacity of 90 tourist railcar passengers.

To date, the public has been able to enjoy free tourist railcar services. Later, this railcar will serve passengers and goods/logistic supplies.

“Cement from Bosowa will later be transported to Garongkong Port by the railway. Garongkong Port has also been prepared for it,” added Budi.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.