REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- State Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Rini Soemarno has departed for Beijing to ensure that China Railway Corporation (CRC) honors its commitment to accelerating the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project. The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project has yet to be realized despite the groundbreaking being conducted in 2016.

Hence, obstacles hindering the implementation of the project must be found out. "This rapid train project should be accelerated in May 2018, especially in critical construction areas, including the transfer of technology and the strengthening of competencies of Indonesian human resources to have the expertise in constructing the high-speed project," Soemarno noted in a press statement made available to Antara here on Thursday.

During the meeting with the CRC, the BUMN minister was accompanied by her special staff -- Sahala Lumban Gaol and Imam Aprianto Putro -- along with BUMN consultant Gatot Trihargo and BUMN Secretary Imam Aprianto Putro.

Also read: China reviews progress of Jakarta-Bandung rapid rail project

Soemarno explained that this prestigious project is believed to be the pride of both countries in the field of public transportation.

In China, Soemarno and her entourage were greeted by the team of CRC: president of China Railway International, head of Consortium of Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project, and Chairman of CRRC Qingdao Sifang.

"Starting from early May of 2018, various massive construction works have been planned at 21 locations considered to be the most critical. In addition, land acquisition is targeted to be completed by the end of May 2018," the BUMN minister stated.

The minister added that at the meeting, the CRC also expressed its commitment to accelerating the development of several tunnels, including the Walini tunnel.

The land acquisition process for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train needs to be finished soon if the construction of the railway project, worth Rp80 trillion, is to be completed on time in 2019.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla recently stated that the project was being developed on the basis of a business-to-business scheme, and the government was only concerned with its licensing process, while its land clearance had become the responsibility of companies grouped under the consortium.

"There is no problem with the licensing of the project. The problem lies with the land clearance. Matters related to land in Indonesia are different as compared to other countries, such as China, where all land belongs to the state. In Indonesia, most of the land is owned by the people. Hence, the land must be acquired first before a project can be carried out," Kalla pointed out.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project is being developed by a consortium of Chinese companies and Indonesian BUMN.

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