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Ministers differ in Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ( left) inspects the model of a high-speed train that will connect Jakarta to the country's fourth largest city, Bandung, with President of China Railway Corp. Sheng Guangzu (right) Chinese State Councillor Wang Yong (second right) and Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xie Feng (third right) during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of its railway in Cikalong Wetan, West Java, on Jan. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
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tate-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno and Public Work and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono have become involved in an open debate about the development of a high-speed railway project connecting Jakarta and the West Java provincial capital of Bandung.
During the recent meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Basuki warned ministers involved in the project to pay attention to the railway route’s geological conditions, particularly along the project’s long bridges and tunnels, the designs of which have not been certified by the Bridge and Tunnel Safety Commission.
But Rini played down Basuki’s warning.
(Read also: High-speed railway to finish in 2020: Bandung mayor)
“It has surely been checked technically. They [project developers from China] are experienced in developing high-speed railway. We do not need to doubt [their capability],” Rini said in response to Basuki’s warning as reported by kontan.co.id on Tuesday.
Basuki pointed to the fragile soil conditions in the area, particularly at kilometer 92 and 97 of the Cipularang toll road, where landslides have occurred, and Cisomang Bridge, which recently experienced a slight shift.
He stressed the importance of studying the land for safety reasons.
“I have asked the Transportation Minister whether the designs have been checked. They told me, not yet,” he added.
Meanwhile, Arie S Moerwanto, chairman of the Bridge and Tunnel Safety Commission, agreed with Basuki, conceding that his agency has yet to see the designs for the project.
“The project should be certified first,” he added. (bbn)
