Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi affirmed that the railway construction is the longest elevated rail construction plan in Indonesia that is expected to overcome congestion at the Joglo Intersection crossing, Surakarta.
"Traffic at the Joglo Intersection is very packed. With this arrangement, we hope that the elevated railway would be able to solve road traffic problems and train movement," Sumadi stated at the groundbreaking for the Solo Balapan - Kalioso Double Track in Surakarta, Saturday.
Sumadi explained that his ministry had collaborated along with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Central Java provincial government, and Surakarta city government to develop railroad crossings at the Joglo Intersection.
The first arrangement was to build a 1.8-km elevated double-track train by the Directorate General of Railways of the Ministry of Transportation.
The design of the flyover bridge's construction adopts the local wisdom that exists in Solo, specifically in Batik Sidomukti, Klewer Market, and Keraton.
The Solo Balapan - Kalioso double-track project was built at a cost of some Rp920 billion through cash and the State Sharia Securities (SBSN).
The construction is targeted to be completed by the end of 2023.
Secondly, the PUPR Ministry will construct a national road underpass connecting the Ki Mangunsarkoro Street and Sumpah Pemuda Street underneath the elevated railroad.
Thirdly, land acquisition for provincial and district and city roads will be conducted by the Central Java provincial government and the Solo city government.
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The transportation minister noted that the train line at Joglo Intersection had a high frequency of train movements since it was traversed by three types of train: Long Distance Trains for passengers and freight, Adi Sumarmo Airport Train (BIAS), and Solo-Jogja Commuter Train.
The train headway or arrival time crosses 30 minutes due to the Joglo intersection.
"Construction of the elevated rail is expected to reduce the train headway significantly to less than 15 minutes," Sumadi remarked.
The Minister of Transportation is optimistic that sound collaboration between the central and regional governments would facilitate the development process to run smoothly.
On the same occasion, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo affirmed that development of the Joglo Intersection would run smoothly through mutual cooperation among the central government, regional governments, Indonesia Defense Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), and other related stakeholders.
"This sound cooperation has been proven in Central Java. For instance, construction of the Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang and General Sudirman Airport in Purbalingga," Pranowo stated.
Meanwhile, Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka affirmed that with the commencement of arrangement at the Joglo intersection, his side had taken precautionary measures against the traffic and social impacts by disseminating information about the program with members of the surrounding community.
"This arrangement can also help to overcome flooding because later, we will build a drainage system to the Kalianyar river. Arrangement of the Joglo intersection will become a new icon of Solo," Raka remarked.
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Translator: Adimas R F P, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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