INDONESIA ACCELERATES ART TRIAL IN NEW CAPITAL NUSANTARA

JAKARTA, Oct 23 (Bernama-ANTARA) -- The Indonesian government has issued a presidential instruction (Inpres) to accelerate the implementation of the autonomous rail transit (ART) trial in Nusantara, the new capital in East Kalimantan, reported ANTARA agency.

The Inpres, signed by President Joko Widodo on October 18, instructs relevant ministries and institutions to coordinate efforts in supporting the acceleration of the ART trial, including presenting the implementation concept and ensuring effective and safe operations.

The Inpres also mandates the creation of several supporting facilities, including depots, equipment rooms, stations, bus stops, and charging stations, as well as electrical, mechanical, signaling, telecommunications networks, and electricity substations.

Funding for the Inpres will come from the State Budget (APBN) and other legitimate and non-binding sources, in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

The ART, a collaborative project between Indonesia and Chinese companies CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co. Ltd. and Norinco, has been fully operational since August.

The ART offers several advantages over light rail transit (LRT), including the use of a virtual track system that follows special road markings via an automatic guidance system.

The Ministry of Transportation has secured the sustainability of the collaboration through a service purchase scheme (Buy the Service).

According to the Ministry of Finance, the purchase scheme is mandated by Law No. 22 of 2009 concerning Traffic and Road Transportation to ensure the availability of road-based mass transportation in urban areas.

--BERNAMA-ANTARA