Bali is poised to introduce a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system following the completion of the feasibility study for the project. The initial phase of the LRT will feature a 6.04-kilometer track stretching from Ngurah Rai International Airport to the Sunset Road area.
In its initial stage, the Bali LRT will include five stations: Ngurah Rai Airport, Kuta, Pura Desa Adat, Central Park, and Sunset Road. The investment for this project is estimated at approximately US$876 million, or around Rp14.2 trillion.
“The Bali LRT line is planned to be constructed underground,” Risal Wasal, Director General of Railways at the Ministry of Transportation, said on Friday, June 7, 2024.
The decision to build underground was made to accommodate the densely populated areas along the proposed route, which would pose significant challenges if the line were built at grade or elevated.
With the feasibility study completed, the project will move forward with further planning stages, including the Basic Engineering Design (BED) and Detailed Engineering Design (DED).
Additionally, the project will need to conduct an environmental impact assessment (Amdal), develop a Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plan (LARAP), and secure funding before construction can begin.
Risal noted that the timeline for the groundbreaking ceremony depends on the readiness of the Bali provincial adminstration to finalize the planning, including the project’s tender process.
Earlier, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said that the Bali provincial administration and the regional administration will hold the majority of shares in the project, owning 51 percent, while the central government the remaining 49 percent.
Regarding the funding scheme, Budi cited various options, including Public-Private Partnerships (KPBU). South Korea has previously expressed its readiness to participate in building the Bali LRT project.
