Bojonegoro, East Java (ANTARA News) - Deputy Transportation Minister Djoko Susantono expressed optimism the construction of a Jakarta-Surabaya double-track railway link costing Rp9.3 trillion will be completed on schedule.

"We are optimistic construction of the double-track railway link will be completed in two years` time. We have no problem with the funding ," he said here on Saturday.

Djoko who came to Bojonegoro by Wijayakusuma train from Surabaya met with Bojonegoro district head Suyoto and other regional officials to coordinate the execution of a part of the mega project that would be located in the region.

During the visit, Djoko was accompanied by director general of railway affairs at the Transportation Ministry Tunjung Inderawan and operations director of state railway company PT KAI Bambang Irawan.

He said the meeting was part of a coordinative effort to ensure the smooth implementation of the double-track railway project.

Construction of the Bojonegoro section of the double-track railway project would start in March.

As of March, about 680 trucks per day would be operating in the eastern part of Bojonegoro district carrying materials for the construction work, he said.

He said negotiations were still underway to clear land for the construction of the double-track railway section in the western part of the district.

He asked the district administration and local people to support the construction of the railway. "Our visit here is to ask for the local government`s permission to start implementing the project`s Bojonegoro section in March, 2012," he said.
(Uu.S012/HAJM/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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