Vice President JK-JICA and Japanese Ambassador Immediately Discuss the Jakarta-Surabaya Express Train

By : Herry Barus And Aldi Firhand. A | Wednesday, December 13 2017 - 10:20 IWST

Quick Train Illustration (Ist)

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla will meet representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masafumi Ishii to discuss the railway revitalization that will be used by medium-speed railway line Jakarta-Surabaya.

"Yes, certainly communication, discussion about it, we 've' double track ', just a few places that must be repaired so right," said JK at the Vice President Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/12/2017)

According to the Vice President, part of the obstacles to start the Jakarta-Surabaya medium-sized railway project is on the crossing of a plot so that additional tracks are needed by constructing flyovers or underpasses so it is necessary to discuss with JICA as a funder.

Related to the revitalization of the rail, the Vice President has also summoned Minister of Public Works and People's Housing (Menpupera) Basuki Hadimuljono and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi on Tuesday afternoon.

"Yes, I ask for the plan, the program is accelerated, it must be cost efficient, but good, and the speed is maintained so that people to Surabaya's speed can be 5.5 hours, 6 hours, already up and vice versa," said the vice president.

The Vice President also expects the revitalization of the railway to begin in early 2018 and the overall medium-speed railway project from Jakarta to Surabaya can begin in mid-2018.

"Now again he is working on his DED," JK said, calling DED the "Detail Engineering Design" project.

Interviewed separately, Menpupera Basuki Hadimuljono said he had told the Vice President that there are several railway revitalization options, namely "existing gauge", "narrow gauge" and "standard gauge" which build new lines with wider rails.

"The Vice President will meet himself with the Japanese Ambassador, with JICA for discussion, because his JICA study has several options and he wants to convey ideas, what kind of fit he will talk to," he said.