Govt offers BSD-airport LRT project to investors
INDONESIA’S Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has said that the government is offering to investors a light rail transit (LRT) project, connecting Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, both in Tangerang, Banten.
He said in Jakarta that the ministry had offered the 20 trillion rupiah(US$1.4 billion) project to investors in the Middle East, South Korea and China.
“Many investors expressed their interest when I offered it in the Middle East,” said Budi as quoted by tribunnews.com.
The increasing demand for transportation from BSD in South Tangerang to the airport had caused serious traffic congestion during peak hours, said the minister, adding that public transportation, including the LRT, would be a solution to the problem.
“We need to reduce the traffic congestion along the roads toward Soekarno-Hatta Airport as otherwise, we may need three hours to reach the airport,” Budi said, adding that the private company could apply to become an LRT operator.
However, he said that the government would still need to provide subsidies so that the fares would be affordable.
Currently, the government is constructing three LRT projects in Palembang, South Sumatra, in Jakarta inner city (LRT Jakarta) and the Greater Jakarta LRT.