PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Acting West Java Governor Bey Machmudin said he had proposed to the Ministry of Transportation the reactivation of the Banjar - Pangandaran and Bandung - Ciwidey railway lines.

"A few days ago we proposed to the Director General of Railways (Kemenhub) the Banjar - Pangandaran and Bandung - Ciwidey railway lines. We asked for a review of whether it would be possible to reactivate them," said Bey Machmudin, in Bandung City, Friday (1/3/2024).

The two old train lines are currently inactive. To reactivate it, the Provincial Government will conduct a market study first.

Market analysis is one of the requirements required by the Director General of Railways if the two routes are to be reactivated.

"For example, on the Banjar - Pangandaran route, the Director General of Railways is asking if there is a market or not. Don't let the route be opened but there are no people interested. So we are required to study it first," he explained.

However, Bey believes that public interest in using these two routes will be high considering that the Pangandaran - Ciwidey and Bandung areas are West Java's leading tourist destinations.

According to Bey, the reactivation of the Banjar - Pangandaran and Bandung - Ciwidey railway lines will boost tourist visits and improve the local economy. Apart from that, reactivation can also reduce congestion on arterial roads.

"Actually, in terms of tourism, there is no question that it will be busy, especially as there are several very beautiful tunnels," said Bey.

The length of the Banjar - Pangandaran railway track is 82 kilometers starting from Banjar station and ending at Cijulang Station. This route has many bridges and tunnels.

Meanwhile, the non-active Bandung - Ciwidey railway line is 40 kilometers away. In the past, these two lines were used to transport agricultural products from southern Bandung to Bandung and Batavia (Jakarta) stations.

Bey hopes that the reactivation of the two railway lines can be realized so that West Java has the best transportation and economic routes in Indonesia.

"We want West Java to be better in everything including transportation," concluded Bey.