New Trans-Sulawesi Railway To Be Initiated in October

BANDUNG, July 1 (EngineeringDaily) -- Though faced with a number of obstacles, the new railway planned for the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia has been given the green light for initial operations to begin by this October
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Financing was one area of concern for the project, but the government believes the Rp 8 trillion construction can commence prior to October 2014. According to Bambang Prihartono, Director of Transportation for the Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS), this commencement is possible because the project will be fully funded from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).

The project plans do not involve any private parties and will be run completely by the Indonesian government. "So, it is 100 percent pure rupiah, and it will later be operated by the government-owned Indonesian Railway, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI)," Director Prihartono told Indonesian newspaper Bisnis. And because the project fully depends on local funding, he said, the land to be provided can be furnished gradually.

The train line that will connect Makassar, the capital of Sulawesi, to Pare-Pare to the north was originally not included in the list of mega projects to be hastened before the office term of United Indonesia Cabinet II ends.

However, with assurances provided by South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Chairul Tanjung has convinced the government to make the necessary declarations immediately following the presidential election on July 9th.

According to Director Prihartono, the agreement will be done first for segments with land already acquired by the local government[s]. For the remainder of 2014 the focus will be on preparation of land and pad preparation, whereas the actual construction of the railway will begin in 2015.

Along the railway line, 23 train stations are planned to be built, namely in the areas Tallo, Parangloe, Mandai, Maros, Pute, Lempangan, Pangkajene, Bungoro, Labakkang, Ma'rang, Segeri, Mandale, Tanate Rilau, and Barru.

The stations will also include Garongkong, Pelabuhan Garongkong [Garongkong Port], Takalasi, Soppengriaja, Palanro, Malusetasi, Kupa, Lumpue, and Sorean. The main train line will pass through Makassar New Port, heading to Pare-Pare.

<Trans-Sulawesi Railway Project Profile>
Project Value Rp 8 trillion
Route Makassar - Pare-Pare
Track length 145.23km
Number of stations 23
Regencies traversed 5
Financing APBN
Use Passenger and freight

By Isamil Al Anshori