The government had set itself a target to finish the construction of the railway link in 2014, however not all sections would be operational by then.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport rail link will be modelled on the one in Changi, Singapore.

"Later, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport will have unmanned trains that will connect city terminals, just as in Changi," said the Vice Minister of Transportation Department, Bambang Susantono, at a seminar titled "Indonesia Transportation Outlook 2013" in Jakarta on Thursday.

He stated that the government had set itself a target to finish the construction of the railway link in 2014. "However, not all sections would be operational by then," Susantono added.

Indonesia will also build other railway links this year, one of them being at Kualanamu Airport, North Sumatra.

"I call 2013 the year of accelerated development because so many construction projects will start this year," Susantono said.

He noted the rapid development of cities outside Java. "It seems as if they want to be equal with the cities in Java," Susantono continued.

"Of the 90 percent of urban area growth seen across the country, about 70 percent are outside Java," he pointed out.

The government had planned to begin the construction of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport rail link by early 2014.

"We are making efforts to meet that target so operations can begin as early as possible next year," Susantono explained.

He stated the construction of the railway link from Jakarta to Tangerang was currently under way.

The rail link will connect Soekarno-Hatta with city terminals such as Manggarai and Sudirman stations.

"The Manggarai-Sudirman-Soekarno-Hatta Airport connection will be part of a package," Susantono said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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