INDUSTRY.co.id - Batubara - Ministry of Transportation requested that the railway line of Bandartinggi - Kualatanjung, Batubara regency, North Sumatra 21.5 kilometers can be operated in March 2018.

"The government is indeed accelerating the development of infrastructure, especially integrated industrial areas, ports and trains," said Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi in Batubara, Friday (24/11/2017)

He said that after reviewing the construction project of railway Bandartinggi - Kualatanjung and Kualabuhanjung Port.

Minister of Transportation asserted, with the service of integrated services all services become faster and cost becomes cheaper and efficiency.

"Soft launching of Bandartinggi railway line - Kualatanjung was asked to be done in March 2018," he said.

Bandartinggi and Kualatanjung railway lines will support the connectivity of the Special Economic Zone (KEK) Sei Mangkei to the Port of Kualatanjung so as to attract investors to invest in the region.

Head of Central Railway Engineering North Sumatra (Sumbagut), Amanna Gappa said, it is trying to complete the construction of the project according to the target of 2018.

Optimism refers to also the completion of land acquisition problems as much as 10 points / fields or as long as 543 meters are hampered.

As land owned by citizens in km 0 + 875 km to 0 + 975 area of ​​3,753 square meters with a length of 100 meters there is a verdict of determination of compensation from the District Court Simalungun so that just waiting for the letter BPN.

Then the land at km 1 + 875 to 2 + 000 (an area of ​​5442 meters) along the 125 meters has been discussed with the residents after the calculation by KJPP has come out.

While the land residents in km 3 + 970 to 3 + 975 area of ​​853 meters and length of 5 meters is in the process of validation at BPN North Sumatra for payment.

"With all the constraints of land acquisition completed, it is believed that the project will be completed in time and operate in March 2018," he said.

In order to achieve the project development target, Baltek Sumbagut has also asked contractors to increase their work schedule to three of two shifts.

Increased work is done because it is the rainy season so it interferes with the work.

He explained that the financing of the project with Sukuk / SBSN Syariah amounted to Rp577, 696 billion. In addition, the railway is also to reduce the highway loads that have been high enough and reduce traffic congestion.

The funds for the two fiscal years of 2017 amounted to Rp230, 869 billion and 2018 Rp346, 827 billion.