Governor Says Bali Must Learn From Jakarta When It Comes To Traffic Control

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It is undeniable that Bali has an issue with traffic congestion. In fact, just this week, officials from Bali Airport have called on tourists to leave extra time when planning their routes to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International to account for traffic jams.

Now Governor Wayan Koster has shed some light on potential solutions. 

Construction is already underway on the Gilimanuk – Mengwi highway, which will be known as the Jagat Kerthi Bali Toll Road.

The route is set to help eliminate much of the freight traffic on Bali’s roads and help provide a more direct route from the heart of the island to the far west.

This is just one of the solutions created by Governor Koster’s provincial government to help address traffic on the island. 

The Governor and his teams have also spoken publicly about the potential for an electric light railway (LRT) between Bali Airport and the popular tourist destination of Seminyak, with stops in Sanur and Kuta on a circular line. 

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Now Governor Koster has announced that Bali has a lot to learn when it comes to transportation and traffic management.

The Governor revealed that he has asked for assistance from the DKI Jakarta provincial government to construct not only an LRT but also a metro-style railway line in Denpasar and Badung Regency.

Speaking to the media, Governor Koster said, “I think the problem with public transportation is Bali has a lot to learn from Jakarta.”

Governor Koster is said to be ‘envious’ of the integrated public transportation systems in Jakarta that go a long way in dealing with traffic congestion in the Indonesian capital city.

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Conversations and plans to create an MRT and LRT system in Bali are moving forward.

The Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Provincial Government of Bali to establish an MRT and LRT as soon as possible. 

DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary, Joko Agus Setyono, shared that he and Governor Koster are discussing a collaboration that will increase regional synergy.

The ambitious projects are being created with a clear vision to improve tourism in Bali. 

Setyono said, “The first [objective] is the development and promotion of culture, tourism, and the creative economy.”  

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While Bali benefits from insights into transportation management and development, Bali’s provincial government will provide the Jakarta-based teams with tourism and culture projects.

More insights into the finer details of the projects will be revealed in due course. It is clear, however, that Governor Koster is committed to creating meaningful change in terms of development in Bali. 

During a speech late last year, Governor Koster addressed criticism that tourism and infrastructural development on the island would negatively impact natural landscapes and productive agricultural land.

Moves that many say would not only threaten vulnerable ecosystems but cause loss of livelihoods, food insecurity and contribute to water scarcity on the island. 

The Governor made his position clear; he said, “The solution to building tourism while maintaining food security is to build monumental and fundamental infrastructure, as well as tourism that [promotes] local agricultural production.”

A new MTR and LTR railways system in the south of Bali, alongside the Gilimanuk-Mengewi Toll Road certainly appears to be the kind of monumental and fundamental infrastructure that Governor Koster has been promising. 

The new railway system is not the only major tourism infrastructure development to be announced this week.

Over on Nusa Penida, community leaders have partnered with a Chinese investment company to build a 182m outdoor glass elevator and viewing platform project on the island’s most famous beach.

The world-famous Kelingking Beach has been hitting the headlines over the last few months after a sharp rise in tourists getting injured on the precious cliffside pathway down to the shoreline.

As a solution, investors have committed to establishing the novel elevator and viewing platform project that will drastically improve tourist safety and bring more economic prosperity into the area for the community.