Jokowi: Papua Railway Development to Start in 2015

Jakarta Globe, Ezra Sihite, Dec 08, 2014

A railroad under construction in East Jakarta on Dec. 3, 2014. (Antara
Photo/Irene Renata)

Jakarta. The government will start building a railroad network in Papua next year, President Joko Widodo promised on Monday.

“The railway development in Papua will start next year. We want the provincial development agency to support us so the development can start as soon as possible,” Joko said on Monday during a teleconference with district heads and governors from Papua and Maluku, both in the east of the country. “We want the railways to reach higher areas in Papua.”

A preliminary study is set to be concluded in six months and building can start immediately afterward, the president said, adding that old railways in Biak that are no longer in use will also be reactivated from next year.

Besides railways, Joko wants to revamp the roads in the outlying parts of the country as well.

“We want the railway development to start immediately,” he said. “It’s time the eastern part of Indonesia receives more attention from the central government. We want to start developing together, maintain the unity [of the nation], and manage our border areas.”