JAKARTA: The West Java provincial administration has announced 18 bus rapid transit (BRT) routes serving the Greater Bandung area, which are slated to become operational in 2027 at an estimated cost of Rp1.3 trillion (US$72.10 million).
The Greater Bandung BRT is an integrated bus-based public transport system serving the cities of Bandung and Cimahi, as well as the Bandung and West Bandung regencies. The network will also extend to parts of Sumedang regency, which borders Bandung regency and is close to Bandung city, tribunnews.com reported.
The system forms part of the Indonesian Mass Transit Project (MASTRAN) under the auspices of the Transportation Ministry's Land Transportation Directorate General.
At present, six BRT corridors and two feeder routes are already operating in the Greater Bandung area under the Metro Jabar Trans service.
The existing corridors run from Leuwipanjang bus terminal to Dago in Bandung, and to Soreang and Majalaya in Bandung regency. Other routes connect Alun-alun (City Square) Bandung with Kota Baru Parahyangan in West Bandung regency, Bandung Electronic City (BEC) with Baleendah in Bandung regency, and Dipatiukur in Bandung city with Jatinangor in Sumedang regency.
Once fully operational in 2027, the Greater Bandung BRT will connect destinations within Bandung city as well as neighbouring population centres.
The Transportation Ministry held the groundbreaking ceremony for the MASTRAN project with West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi and mayors and regents from the Bandung Metropolitan Area at Leuwipanjang bus terminal on July 22.
The project marks the initial step in developing a BRT system aimed at improving mobility for residents across the Bandung Basin.
"We, together with the West Java governor as well as regents and mayors in the Greater Bandung area, conducted the groundbreaking for the development of the BRT system in the Bandung Basin area," Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said during the ceremony, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
He said the development is expected to improve daily mobility for the public, particularly those living in the Greater Bandung area.
"It is expected that in the future Bandung will become a metropolitan city with better public transportation that is also affordable for all residents using this public transit facility," he said.
"I hope for your support and prayers so the BRT development can be completed as scheduled and be operational in 2027 to serve the people of Greater Bandung."
Dedi said the project would benefit residents throughout the Greater Bandung area, including those in Jatinangor district, Sumedang regency, which is included in the BRT service area.
Jatinangor is known as an education hub, housing several higher education institutions, including Padjadjaran University, the Bandung Institute of Technology's (ITB) Jatinangor campus and the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN).
"The service is not only for Bandung city residents but for all residents in the Greater Bandung area," Dedi said.
"Residents can travel anywhere and visit one another. This means this public transportation is open to people from all walks of life."
French support
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Director General Aan Suhanan said the BRT project is worth around Rp1.3 trillion and is financed by the Indonesian government, the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD).
"By constructing infrastructure and implementing an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), the Bandung Basin BRT service will have a headway of seven minutes during peak hours," he said.
"The headway will be 15 minutes outside peak hours. It is expected that more people will shift to public transport, reducing traffic congestion and emissions."
He said the project includes the construction of six BRT depots, 719 off-corridor bus stops, 34 on-corridor bus stops, 21km of dedicated BRT lanes and a metropolitan ITS system.
Construction of two bus depots is currently under way in Bandung city. Leuwipanjang bus terminal will serve western routes, while Cicaheum bus terminal will serve eastern routes.
Additional depots will be built in Cimenyan in northern Bandung regency, Soreang and Majalaya in southern Bandung regency, and Padalarang in West Bandung regency.
Iconic bus stops will also be constructed in the next phase at Tegalega, Alun-alun Bandung, Station Hall and Kiara Artha Park.
In addition to the Greater Bandung project, the AFD is also providing financial support for a similar BRT system in the Greater Medan area of North Sumatra.
Also known as Mebidang, the Medan Metropolitan Area comprises the cities of Medan and Binjai, as well as Deli Serdang regency.
The Mebidang BRT project is valued at around Rp1.14 trillion and includes 21km of dedicated BRT lanes, 32 bus stops and two bus depots.
In total, France is providing a €600,000 (US$691,950) grant and a US$40 million AFD loan for the Greater Medan BRT project, according to a French Embassy press release. - Jakarta Post/ANN
