Indonesia Accelerates Railway Development Beyond Java for Sustainability

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has announced plans to accelerate the development of railway networks outside Java, a strategic move aimed at promoting equitable growth and advancing the transition to environmentally friendly transportation.

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), conveyed this commitment during a coordination meeting on the development of the Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi (SKS) railway network at Tanah Abang Station in Jakarta.

He said rail-based transportation is part of the National Priority Work Program, which focuses on strengthening connectivity and reducing regional disparities. “Railways must be the transportation solution of the future. Besides being efficient, railways are also more environmentally friendly and contribute less to emissions,” Minister AHY said on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Minister AHY noted that rail’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions remains below 1 percent, underscoring its potential to support Indonesia’s net-zero emission target. He added that developing railway networks outside Java would improve access to industrial zones, production centers, and regions that remain poorly connected.

He explained that the development approach would be tailored to each island’s characteristics: Sumatra will strengthen its existing network, Kalimantan will build new lines from scratch, and Sulawesi will integrate railways with industrial areas.

However, Minister AHY acknowledged that the scale of investment required poses a major challenge. Developing the network by 2045 will require an estimated IDR 1,100–1,200 trillion. “We need creative financing schemes and collaboration with the private sector. We cannot rely solely on the state budget,” he said.

He also emphasized the role of regional administrations in strengthening public transportation, particularly through budget policies that prioritize mass transit. Railway development, he added, must be integrated with spatial planning and regional development. “Railways must be part of an integrated, sustainable development system,” he said. (Misni Parjiati/Lasti Martina)