Bali, KAI plan battery-powered tram from airport to Canggu

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - Bali’s provincial government and state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia are developing a battery-powered electric tram linking I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport with Canggu to ease congestion and support tourism.

The plan was formalized through a cooperation agreement signed in Denpasar on Tuesday.

“Tourist comfort must be prioritized, with the tram expected to become a new attraction for Balinese tourism,” Bali Governor Wayan Koster said after the signing.

The agreement follows a proposal by the Ministry of National Development Planning and the Bali provincial government.

Koster said the tram could ease congestion along the airport-Canggu corridor, which handles daily traffic of up to 150,000 people and 80,000 vehicles.

The 12-kilometer line will account for hotels, tourist accommodations, attractions, the environment, settlements and local communities, Koster said.

He said infrastructure development must not disrupt Bali’s ecosystem.

“Transport development must preserve Bali’s uniqueness and beauty, support tourism and avoid disrupting community life,” he said.

The tram will differ from conventional trains, with a compact body slightly more than two meters wide, narrower than a bus. It will be quiet, battery-powered and require no overhead cables.

Under the agreement, the tram is expected to complete the journey in 30 minutes, with departures every 10 minutes.

The system is designed to carry up to 60,000 passengers daily, equivalent to 40 percent of mobility along the corridor.

Authorities will immediately conduct technical studies and public outreach while involving traditional villages, following the agreement.

Groundbreaking is planned for March 2027, with the first route expected to begin operations in 2028 and the full line to Canggu completed by 2029.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia President Director Bobby Rasyidin said the company would prioritize Balinese cultural, environmental and social considerations from the planning stage.

The parties also agreed on battery-powered technology to minimize environmental impact and noise while improving comfort for residents and tourists.

Related news: Bali's first electric train to serve airport-Seminyak line: official

Translator: Ni Putu Putri M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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