President Jokowi Officiates Groundbreaking Of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway

Bandung, W Java (Antara Bali)- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officiated the groundbreaking of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project in Cikalong Wetan, Bandung District, West Java Province, on Thursday.

The project is estimated to cost US$5.5 billion, with 75 percent of the financing coming from the China Development Bank (CDB) and the rest from Indonesia's state enterprises.

The construction work on the PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC - Indonesia China High Speed Railway) project begins in early 2016 and is expected to be completed in 2018.

Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan has issued the trace permit for the project, spokesman of the transportation ministry J.A. Barata noted in a statement on Wednesday.

The trace permit is stipulated in Transportation Ministry Decree No. KP 25 of 2016 on the track route of the High-Speed Railway Line connecting Jakarta and Bandung through the Halim-Tegalluar Crossing.

"The trace permit was requested by PT KCIC. The transportation minister issued the trace permit after all requirements were met, including the recommendations from the provincial, municipal, and district administrations whose areas are covered by the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway line," Barata remarked.

The railway track is 142.3 kilometers in length, with four stations and a depot facility in Tegalluar, Bandung.

The four stations will be located in Halim, Karawang, Walini, and Tegalluar. (WDY)