18-1-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) The Malaysian government is showing interest in investing in Indonesia’s Light Rapid Transit (LRT) project in Batam City, Riau Islands, according to reports. The move, confirmed by the Management Agency for the Batam Free Trade Zone and Free Port (BP Batam), aims to enhance the region’s mass transportation sector and address the challenges posed by a growing population and increasing congestion.
Fesly Abadi Paranoan, the head of BP Batam’s Strategic Programme Planning Centre, expressed openness towards Malaysian investments and their desire to understand the development process, incentives, and investment opportunities, particularly in relation to the planned LRT system. The project seeks to transform Batam City into a modern metropolis, capable of accommodating its expanding population and improving traffic flow.
Ariastuty Sirait, the head of BP Batam’s Public Relations, Promotion, and Protocol Bureau, stated that the LRT project is currently in the final stages of the development plan, with a feasibility study being conducted by a Singapore-based consortium. The results of the study are eagerly anticipated, as they will inform the evaluation of project documents and the preparation of auction materials.
According to a report by Channel News Asia in May of the previous year, the construction of Batam City’s LRT project was projected to commence in mid-2024, with an anticipated completion date in 2025. The first phase of the project, estimated at 11 kilometers in length, will encompass 16 stations. The total investment for Phase 1 is valued at approximately US$110 million or RM518 million.
