Indonesia to reactivate West Sumatra railway lines

The Indonesian government has committed Rp11 trillion to reactivate railway lines in West Sumatra as part of a national effort to improve public transportation access and equality. Dony Oskaria, Head of the State-Owned Enterprise Regulatory Agency, stated that the initiative aligns with President Prabowo’s goal to enhance transportation quality across all regions.

Bobby Rasyidin, President Director of PT Kereta Api Indonesia, noted a significant disparity in rail infrastructure: while Java possesses 7,000 kilometers of active tracks, regions outside Java have less than 1,000 kilometers despite representing half of the population. In West Sumatra, active tracks currently total approximately 84 kilometers, down from a previous length of 280 kilometers.

A primary challenge for the project is the presence of residential buildings constructed along the existing rail paths. Local governments have been requested to assist in socialising the project to residents to ensure smooth implementation.