The Indonesian government was deeply disappointing in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, there was one positive thing I could not ignore during the Jokowi era: the rapid pace of infrastructure development. Even though the pandemic and the recession would almost certainly slow some of these plans down, I kept finding myself excited about what was already under construction and what was still in the planning stage.
These were some of the infrastructure projects I looked forward to the most during that period, based on a lot of browsing and daydreaming during the pandemic.
Projects I Was Most Excited About
- JORR 2
- Tol Jakarta-Cikampek Selatan
- Tol Probolinggo-Banyuwangi Jakarta to Banyuwangi would eventually be connected by toll road as part of Trans Java.
- Tol Gilimanuk-Mengwi A toll road in Bali. The idea of leaving the toll road in Banyuwangi, crossing by ferry, and then entering another toll road again toward Mengwi near Denpasar sounded very interesting.
- Tol Cisumdawu Easier access from Bandung to the Cipali toll road and to Kertajati Airport.
- Tol Cigatas Bandung to Tasikmalaya by toll road, with longer-term hopes of eventually extending toward Cilacap and Yogyakarta.
- Tol Solo-Yogyakarta-YIA Yogyakarta becoming directly connected to Trans Java, making Jakarta to Jogja by toll road possible.
- Tol Bawen-Yogyakarta Passing through Magelang and making access to Borobudur easier.
- Tol Kertosono-Kediri Kediri becoming connected to Trans Java, which would make Jakarta to Kediri by toll road possible.
- Exit Tol Gedebage KM 149 A new exit on the Padalarang-Cileunyi toll road, with easier access to Summarecon Bandung and close to my home area.
- Kereta Cepat Jakarta-Bandung Halim to Tegalluar. Tegalluar Station is close to Gedebage, which made this one especially exciting for me.
- LRT Jabodebek Dukuh Atas-Cawang, Cawang-Cibubur, and Cawang-Bekasi Timur.
- MRT Jakarta Fase 2A Under construction, extending from Bundaran HI to Jakarta Kota.
- MRT Jakarta Fase 2B Still in planning, extending from Jakarta Kota to Ancol Barat.
- LRT Jakarta Fase 2 Manggarai to Jakarta International Stadium.
- Stasiun Manggarai A major renovation that would turn it into a long-distance passenger rail hub. Eventually even Argo Parahyangan would depart from here.
- Kereta Api Cibatu-Garut Making Bandung to Garut by train possible again.
- KRL Solo-Jogja
Other Interesting Ideas Still in Discussion
- MRT Jakarta Fase 3 A west-to-east line across Jakarta.
- KRL Lingkar Luar Jabodetabek Parung Panjang - Citayam - Nambo - Cikarang.
- Tol Tasikmalaya - Cilacap - Yogyakarta A southern-side Trans Java corridor.
- Tol Sukabumi - Cianjur - Padalarang A continuation of Bocimi, potentially connecting Bogor to Bandung via Cianjur and becoming part of a southern Trans Java route.
Of course, there were many more infrastructure projects in Indonesia beyond the list above, including the Trans Sumatra toll road. But these were the ones that stood out most to me personally, especially because I lived and worked in Jakarta, had a home in Kabupaten Bekasi, and my parents lived in Bandung. That perspective naturally shaped which projects felt the most exciting and relevant.