Railway project to be revived

The Jakarta Post

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: The government will revive a plan for the construction of a 98-kilometer railway track between Simpang station in Ogan Ilir regency and Tanjung Api-api port on the eastern coast of South Sumatra, an official said Tuesday.

South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Oesman said the plan was briefly canceled following an order from Minister of Transportation Hatta Rajasa early last month.

However, Syahrial said Minister Hatta had since told him that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wanted the project to go ahead as scheduled.

"So there is no longer any delay in the construction of the project," Syahrial said, adding that the project would cost Rp 1.54 trillion (approximately US$167 million).

The construction of the project is scheduled to start this year, he said.

Syahrial said that the South Sumatra provincial administration would be in charge of land clearing for both the railway track and stations.

"The South Sumatra provincial administration has earmarked funds amounting to Rp 48 billion for land clearing," he said.