Madiun, E Java (ANTARA News) - PT Industri Kereta Api (Inka) has completed the construction of 66 carriages ordered by PT KAI (state-owned rail company) to be used for Eid holiday transportation this year.

"A total of six train sets, or 66 units of transportation means, are now under construction process. The carriages will be added to the Eid transportation facilities," the companys CSR, Public Relations and Senior Manager Secretary, Cholik Mochamad Zam Zam, said here on Saturday.

He noted that the six train sets would be operational on June 14, adding that they are expected to be able to increase the capacity of passengers to up to 4.5 thousand for the upcoming Eid holiday season.

Cholik remarked that besides the six train sets, PT Inka is now completing its project to meet PT KAIs procurement of 438 carriages of various types.

"The procurement of 438 carriages is part of PT KAIs efforts to rejuvenate its carriages," he stated.

It is planned that around 100 units would be delivered this year and the rest in 2018, he revealed.

For the project, PT Inka has received funding worth Rp1.69 trillion from the syndication of PT Bank Mandiri Tbk and PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur.

PT Inkas human resource development and finance director, Mohammad Nur Sodiq, explained that the funding was the form of synergy of state-owned companies in the framework of supporting the strengthening of rail infrastructure which is the governments priority.

"The funding of the syndication is part of the funding needed by PT Inka that needs up to Rp7 trillion in 2017," he remarked.

PT Inka is now completing 10 train sets for the Soekarno-Hatta airport electric train system as well as eight sets for the light rail transit system for the next Asian Games activities in Palembang.

To meet foreign market demands, PT Inka is now completing the export contract for 50 Broad Gauge passenger trains and 200 Meter Gauge passenger trains for Bangladesh, which is supported by National Interest Account funding program.

It is now conducting negotiations to meet the need of trains in African countries, he asserted.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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