DENPASAR ~

Ministry of Transportation expected Bali Provincial Government to draw up its own feasibility study (FS) related to the plan to build a railway system in that area.

“We hope that Bali provincial government could make its FS due to cultural factors in Bali was very special,” said Secretary General of Railway of Ministry of Transportation Sugiadi Waluyo, in Denpasar, on Monday.

He said that the railway feasibility study is more suitable to be compiled by Bali government itself in order not to friction the culture, while if the FS is made by the private sector and universities, of course, preferred only in terms of economic feasibility and technical.

Sugiadi stated that related to the plan to build railway system in Bali, few years ago already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the provincial government of Bali, the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Transportation and the University of Udayana.

“It has been decided that FS will be made by Ministry of Transportation through Directorate General of railway with Udayana University, but there was no follow up of it,” he said at the public dialogue titled “Promoting railway construction in Bali”.Therefore, according to him, that FS is taken over by the provincial government of Bali as the social and cultural issues that also play an important role to avoid the rejection of society.

He did not deny the investment to build a railway system is quite large, ie, for the provision of infrastructure per kilometer on average cost about Rp30-40 billion.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Bali, Ketut Sudikerta said the local government would seek to allocate the cost of the preparation of the feasibility study of the railway in Bali from 2016 budget.

“It could not be allocated from 2015 budget as it had been decided. Likewise it is impossible if we change it in a short time,” he said.

Bali provincial government, he added, opening opportunities for private investment in an attempt to build such a system. In addition, Bali Government will also strengthen coordination with the central government.