DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – The Bali provincial government has begun exploring new opportunities to develop a rail-based mass transit system in the Sarbagita metropolitan area as part of efforts to address growing traffic congestion on the island.
The plan involves studying the potential development of a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system connecting key areas in South Bali, including Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan.
Head of Bali Provincial Transportation Agency, I Kadek Mudarta, said the provincial government has assigned regional state-owned enterprise PT Jamkrida Bali Mandara to explore potential partnerships for the planning, construction, and financing of the rail-based public transportation system.
The task is being carried out through PT Sarana Bali Dwipa Jaya (SBDJ), a subsidiary company responsible for identifying possible investment partners that could participate in the MRT project.
“The Bali provincial government has assigned the regional enterprise through its subsidiary to explore potential partners who may collaborate in planning the MRT development,” Mudarta said on Monday (March 9).
According to Mudarta, the ongoing process is still in the early study phase, with teams currently collecting data to assess possible cooperation schemes and investment models for the project.
One of the parties involved in the preliminary assessment is a Chinese company, Norinco International, which is working together with SBDJ to evaluate the feasibility of developing a rail-based mass transit system in Bali.
“As far as I know, SBDJ is currently working with Norinco International. They are still conducting studies and gathering data. The exact cooperation scheme has not yet been determined,” he said.
Mudarta added that the provincial government cannot yet provide further details about the potential subway development until the study process conducted by SBDJ and Norinco International is completed.
The MRT concept has previously drawn public attention in Bali after the Bali Urban Subway project held a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2024. The project, which was initiated by a private consortium, later stalled due to legal disputes.
The project, estimated to be worth around IDR 316 trillion, was reportedly halted after the main consortium company, PT Bumi Indah Prima (BIP), faced a lawsuit from vendor Samvada Asia related to unpaid study and planning costs totaling USD 7.4 million.
Following the legal issues, the subway project initially launched in the Kuta area, has not shown further progress. The site previously used for early construction activities was also reported to have been left idle.
The stalled development has caused disappointment among some members of the public, as the MRT system has long been viewed as a potential long-term solution to rising traffic congestion in the Sarbagita region, where tourism growth and increasing vehicle numbers continue to place pressure on road infrastructure.