"We would like to alter everything, but the ground plan will have to integrate the existing means of transportation," the president stated in his opening speech at a closed door meeting about transport infrastructure in the Jabodetabek region, held in the presidential office in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He expressed the view that it was high time the transport infrastructure in Indonesia was developed in such a way that it fulfilled three main functions of connectivity, integration between different means of transportation and modernization.
"The first function is connectivity between regions since better connected regions will ensure economically more efficient movement, besides lowering logistical and transportation costs, thus improving our competitiveness," he explained.
Second focus will be to achieve integration between different means of transportation, which President Widodo deems very important.
"If we can connect air traffic with railways, and then with MRT and LRT, along with buses and harbors, the transportation will run much smoother. Such a mode of planning must surely be introduced," he noted.
The President thinks that it is time for Indonesia to build modern airports, harbors, stations and terminals with enough capacity to cater to the peoples needs. His plans also include expanding existing terminals, docks and runways.
"This modernization drive is also about enhancing security and making public transport more convenient for passengers," he concluded.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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