Construction work on the project had begun in 2015. The project fell under the national strategic projects list and its investment is valued at 1.1 trillion Indonesian rupiahs.
"I would like to express my appreciation to the Minister of Transportation. Through the national strategic project, we built a railway infrastructure that needed a high amount of investment," Pandjaitan said at the virtual launch of operations on Friday.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, he also asked for airport railway services to be integrated with the government's PeduliLindungi application to ensure the safety and health of people using the services.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that the Yogyakarta Airport Railway project was among President Joko Widodo's visions that had been successfully manifested.
"This is one of the President's visions and missions that we must deliver. During this pandemic, we are still moving and we are still running this project," he remarked.
He said that the airport railway infrastructure development involved local residents through cash-intensive programs, so as to improve the community's economy.
The Minister of Transportation also proposed to build an additional station to attract potential airport train users, especially in the western part of the city, where tourist destinations and culinary centers are located.
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Translator: Adimas RFP, Aria Cindyara
Editor: Suharto
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