Makassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA Sulsel) - Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan inspected the first phase of the Trans Sulawesi railway track that passes through the village of Lalalabata, Barru district, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
"The people have been expecting the railway service to start for a long time and we will build it from Makassar (South Sulawesi) to Manado (North Sulawesi)," he said on the sidelines of the inspection visit.
For the first phase, a 165 km long railway line will be built from Makassar to Parepare. He hoped that the imported rails for the 145 km long line would be delivered to Indonesia by the end of December.
"As of now, around two kilometer long railway track has been installed and next week, five more kilometers will be installed. The work would have proceeded at a faster pace if the rails were available," he said.
Although he did not know the exact amount of budget needed for the project, he believed it would be made available. "It should be enough," he said.
Fary Djemi Francis, the chairman of the House of Representatives` Commission V overseeing, among others, transportation, expressed his strong political commitment to ensure budgetary support for the development of the Trans Sulawesi railway service.
"Commission V will support (the railway service). It is strongly committed to the completion of the project," he said.
South Sulawesi governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo also accompanied the minister during the inspection.
President Joko Widodo is scheduled to inspect the project next week.
"The people have been expecting the railway service to start for a long time and we will build it from Makassar (South Sulawesi) to Manado (North Sulawesi)," he said on the sidelines of the inspection visit.
For the first phase, a 165 km long railway line will be built from Makassar to Parepare. He hoped that the imported rails for the 145 km long line would be delivered to Indonesia by the end of December.
"As of now, around two kilometer long railway track has been installed and next week, five more kilometers will be installed. The work would have proceeded at a faster pace if the rails were available," he said.
Although he did not know the exact amount of budget needed for the project, he believed it would be made available. "It should be enough," he said.
Fary Djemi Francis, the chairman of the House of Representatives` Commission V overseeing, among others, transportation, expressed his strong political commitment to ensure budgetary support for the development of the Trans Sulawesi railway service.
"Commission V will support (the railway service). It is strongly committed to the completion of the project," he said.
South Sulawesi governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo also accompanied the minister during the inspection.
President Joko Widodo is scheduled to inspect the project next week.