REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAKASSAR -- The government has agreed to set aside more than Rp1 trillion in funds to build railway tracks in South Sulawesi province, Deputy Governor Agus Arifin Nu'Mang said.

"Based on the outcome of the meeting I attended in Jakarta, the overall budget allocations in the state budget for the construction of railway tracks reach Rp1.117 trillion," he said here on Sunday.

The figure had been increased by Rp860 billion from Rp311.7 billion, he said.

"Mr. Minister has told me that the funds must be absorbed and asked me to focus on the project including land clearance," he said.

The project is expected to be started late February 2015.

The first phase of the construction of the railway tracks will cover 30 kilometers. The South Sulawesi Transportation Office and the Transportation Ministry had surveyed the location for the project.

Member of the South Sulawesi Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) Aryadi Arsal said all preparations except land clearance had been completed.

"The South Sulawesi community's support, including in land clearance is badly needed to get this mass transportation mode realized," he said.

The South Sulawesi provincial government has planned to build 144-kilometer railway tracks linking the provincial capital of Makassar to Parepare city at a cost of Rp6.4 trillion.

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