TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Indonesian cities cease public transport amid funding shortage

Bali and other cities in Indonesia have either ceased or reduced their transportation services due to a lack of funding from central and local governments. 

Ni Made Tasyarani (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Jakarta
Fri, January 17, 2025

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Indonesian cities cease public transport amid funding shortage A passenger boards a Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) bus in Bali in this undated photo. The Bali administration decided to discontinue the public bus service as of Jan. 1, 2025, after its Buy The Service (BTS) subsidy contract with the Transportation Ministry ended. (Transportation Ministry/Transportation Ministry)

T

he beginning of 2025 marked an end or temporary halt to public transportation services in several regions, including Bali and Yogyakarta, due to lack of funding from both central and regional governments.

Bali’s Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) bus service announced on New Year’s Day that it had ceased operations because the Buy The Service (BTS) subsidy fund from the Transportation Ministry, which had kept it running since September 2020 at an estimated Rp 90 billion (US$5.51 million) annually, had dried up.

The Bali Transportation Agency was negotiating with the ministry to resume the subsidy program for TMD, as the provincial administration had not allocated a sufficient budget to cover its operating cost this year, Tirto.id reported.

The closure sparked public outcry and a petition demanding TMS to resume its services that had gathered over 19,000 signatures as of Jan. 15.

Read also: Bali to get autonomous transit system to ease congestion: Minister

Ngurah Termana, a researcher at the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that TMD’s closure would exacerbate traffic conditions in Bali and fuel greater reliance on private vehicles. Currently, 95 percent of public mobility in the province relied on private vehicles, he said.

Prospects

Every Monday

With exclusive interviews and in-depth coverage of the region's most pressing business issues, "Prospects" is the go-to source for staying ahead of the curve in Indonesia's rapidly evolving business landscape.

By registering, you agree with The Jakarta Post's

Thank You

for signing up our newsletter!

Please check your email for your newsletter subscription.

View More Newsletter

Bali saw severe traffic congestion in 2023 and a spate of viral videos showing tourists abandoning their taxis and wheeling their suitcases to Ngurah Rai airport, which many blamed due to a lack of public transit. A private group is set to build the island province’s first light rail transit (LRT), aiming for an operating date in 2028.

to Read Full Story

  • Unlimited access to our web and app content
  • e-Post daily digital newspaper
  • No advertisements, no interruptions
  • Privileged access to our events and programs
  • Subscription to our newsletters
or

Purchase access to this article for

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay

Redirecting you to payment page

Pay per article

Indonesian cities cease public transport amid funding shortage

Rp 29,000 / article

1
Create your free account
By proceeding, you consent to the revised Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account?

2
  • Palmerat Barat No. 142-143
  • Central Jakarta
  • DKI Jakarta
  • Indonesia
  • 10270
  • +6283816779933
2
Total Rp 29,000

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.