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COORDINATING Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan, Friday, inaugurated the operation of the Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) Train, Kulon Progo, DIY. Also accompanying the occasion were Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Deputy Minister of SOEs II Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, and Governor of DIY Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.
“In this case, I appreciate the Minister of Transportation, through national strategic projects, we are building railway infrastructure which does require high investment,” Luhut said in the ‘Soft Launching of YIA Airport Train Operation’ which was broadcast online, Friday (8/27).
Luhut said the YIA Airport Railway infrastructure development cost IDR1.1 trillion. The project, which was started in 2015, he said, would be able to provide good services to the public, as well as foreign tourists who come to the country.
He also appealed to airport train operators to integrate their operations with the PeduliLindung application.
“Even on trains, I ask operators to pay attention to the COVID-19 issue, in addition to maintaining and improving passenger safety,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Minister Budi said the YIA Airport Railway project was one of President Joko Widodo’s visions and missions that had been successfully realized.
“This is one of the President’s visions and missions that we must deliver. During this pandemic period, we are still moving and we are still running this project,” he said.
Budi said that the airport railway infrastructure development involved local residents through cash-intensive programs, so as to improve the community’s economy.
The Minister of Transportation also proposed to build an additional station to attract potential airport train users.
“I ask for one more point, sir. Around the western part of Yogyakarta, which has tourist destinations as well as culinary centers,” said Minister Luhut. [antaranews]
