“After more than 100 years of use, the two tunnels located in Mrawan and Garahan will soon be replaced with new structures,” said Alfaviega Septian Pravangasta, spokesperson for the Class I Surabaya Railway Engineering Center of DJKA, in Jember on Monday.
According to Pravangasta, the two tunnels, built in 1901 and completed in 1910 by the Dutch East Indies railway company Staatsspoorwegen, will soon undergo complete reconstruction by the Class I Surabaya Railway Engineering Center of DJKA.
“In general, the condition of the two tunnels is still good and suitable for train operations,” he stated.
He noted that the Garahan Tunnel, which is 113 meters long, and the Mrawan Tunnel, 690 meters long, remain safe for regular train operations, provided that speed limits inside the tunnels are observed.
Related news: Minister Sumadi highlights safety aspect of train services
“However, in the Mrawan Tunnel, water seepage has occurred in one section, and the water is channeled out of the tunnel through drainage ditches,” he said.
Pravangasta added that the Mrawan Tunnel has undergone frequent drainage maintenance from 2021 to 2024, considering its construction is over 110 years old and a river channel runs above it.
“The repairs carried out so far have been temporary, so the Class I Surabaya Railway Engineering Center of DJKA plans to build entirely new structures for both tunnels,” he noted.
Technically, the construction plan for the two tunnels has been included in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). However, a comprehensive and detailed study is currently needed for the project.
“In addition, the Garahan and Mrawan tunnel construction plans have been included in the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan of the Surabaya Railway Engineering Center and a feasibility study has been proposed for 2026–2027. We expect physical construction to begin in 2028 and be completed in 2029,” Pravangasta said.
He further said the construction of the Garahan and Mrawan tunnels aims to improve the quality of train travel and support economic downstreaming by opening freight transportation access by rail to the eastern tip of Java Island.
“We hope economic growth will increase, in line with rising rail traffic, once the revitalization of the Garahan and Mrawan tunnels is completed, replacing the Staatsspoorwegen-built tunnels that were originally designed only for the Kalisat–Banyuwangi branch line,” he noted.
Related news: KAI, Basarnas join in supporting LRT Jabodebek safety
Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
