Bali's $20 Billion Subway Project Stalls Amid Investor Concerns
- Rahaman Hadisur
- 60m
- 1 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
A ambitious US$20 billion plan to construct an underground light railway on the Indonesian island of Bali has stalled, casting doubt on the future of a project touted as the solution to the island's chronic traffic congestion. More than a year after its ceremonial groundbreaking, the "Bali Urban Subway" remains in the feasibility-study phase, hampered by wary investors and significant land acquisition challenges.
The project was launched with considerable fanfare in a ceremony last September, with officials hailing it as a game-changer for preserving Bali's tourism appeal. A consortium of local companies was named lead investor, and a main contractor was set to team up with China Railway Construction Corporation. However, progress has been minimal since the initial announcement.
The venture has faced substantial hurdles, including securing the necessary financing and navigating the complexities of acquiring land on the densely populated island. The project also saw a change in leadership, with the president director of the overseeing company, Sarana Bali Dwipa Jaya (SBDJ), stepping down for personal reasons earlier this year.
His successor, Dodi Miharjana, has stated that the company's main focus is "ensuring the smooth running of the Bali subway project." Despite these assurances, the continued delays raise serious questions about whether the long-promised subway, intended to alleviate the island's notorious gridlock, will ever become a reality.
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