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Indonesia, South Korea in talks over Bali LRT, Jakarta MRT
Jakarta and Seoul are looking at collaboration on transportation projects, including the Bali LRT and the Jakarta MRT, as well as a potential coal railroad in Sumatra.
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ndonesian officials are in talks with their South Korean counterparts on developing the second phase of the Bali light rail transit (LRT) and the fourth phase of the Jakarta MRT, in the country’s move to explore collaboration with its long-standing development partner on new projects.
The Transportation Ministry said on Monday in a statement that the Bali provincial administration and Korea National Railway (KNR) were conducting a feasibility study on the second phase of the Bali LRT that would connect Seminyak and Mengwitani, both in Badung regency.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said Bali was seeking a grant from South Korea to help fund the study, and that he had met with South Korean ambassador Park Tae Sung on Monday to discuss the grant and other matters related to the two projects.
“However, as per the suggestion of Bappenas [National Development Planning Agency], we will wait for Bappenas to finish compiling the urban mobility planning roadmap by the end of 2021,” he said.
Last year, state-owned construction firm Nindya Karya signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korea Rail Network Authority (KRNA) and the Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation on developing the first phase of the Bali LRT project.
Read also: Stuck in Bali traffic? Airport to get LRT access to reduce congestion"
Phase one of the Bali LRT, worth Rp 5 trillion (US$350 million), consists of a 9.46-kilometer track that connects I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and the Seminyak route.
Based on a joint prefeasibility study, the Ngurah Rai-Seminyak route is to be constructed in two parts: a 5.3 km route connecting Ngurah Rai airport to Central Park Station and a 4.16 km route connecting Central Park Station to Seminyak.
South Korean representatives had also expressed interest in developing the fourth phase of the Jakarta MRT, connecting Fatmawati Station in South Jakarta and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta, according to Budi.
"We gladly welcome South Korea's desire to be involved in the railway construction in Bali and Jakarta," Budi said.
South Korean embassy representatives were not immediately available for comment.
As of June, developers were still working on phase two of the Jakarta MRT, connecting the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta and West Ancol in North Jakarta. Phase three connects Kalideres in West Jakarta and Ujung Menteng in East Jakarta.
Read also: MRT Jakarta commences phase 2 construction amid COVID-19 outbreak
Budi added that South Korea was also interested in developing a coal railroad from Tarahan in South Lampung to Lahat in South Sumatra, a general railway from Parukcahu to Bangkuang in Central Kalimantan, and an electric vehicle development project.
With investments reaching $851.1 million, South Korea was Indonesia’s third largest foreign investor after Singapore and China in the first quarter of 2021, according to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).
