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Trans Sulawesi to start operating in 2018
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Illustration. (Antara/Septianda Perdana) (Antara/Septianda Perdana)
Illustration. (Antara/Septianda Perdana)
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is hopeful that the Trans Sulawesi railway, which is planned to connect Makassar in South Sulawesi to Manado in North Sulawesi will start operating in 2018 after surveying the development of the project on Wednesday.
According to Jokowi, the construction of the railway tracks from Makassar to Parepare had already begun.
"Although [the current construction] is only six kilometers so far, hopefully next year 145 kilometers [of railway tracks] to Parepare can be finished. The construction of tracks from Manado to [Makassar] will also begin next year," said Jokowi in Barru regency, South Sulawesi, as quoted by Antara news agency.
He added that the project had progressed according to plan and that it would also connect Makassar New Port with the airport.
Jokowi also said that the construction work had created many employment opportunities for the locals.
"[The railway] will be operated by [state-owned railway company] PT KAI and we have asked them to recruit locals as managers and employees," said Jokowi.
The 200-kilometer-per-hour train project is said to use almost 100 percent local materials made by state-owned companies such as train manufacturer PT INKA, construction firm PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA) and land-system and weapons maker PT Pindad.
"The rail itself is still from Japan, but almost 100 percent of the materials are made locally," said Jokowi.
Jokowi also stated that the government remained committed to developing regional infrastructure in all parts of the country.
"[The infrastructure development] is not only here but in other regions as well. We have conducted a [railway] study in Papua; it will probably be completed in the next semester so that we'll be able to start construction next year," said Jokowi.
He added that improvements in the infrastructure sector would decrease the costs of transportation, logistics and distribution, which later led to cheaper goods. (kes)(+)
