Expanding KAI Commuter Line to Karawang and Purwakarta: Aleg PKS Jalal Abdul Nasir’s Initiative
JAKARTA – Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PKS Faction, Jalal Abdul Nasir, is pushing for PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) to expand the Commuter Line route to the Karawang and Purwakarta regions.
According to the legislative member of the House of Representatives Commission XII, this step is crucial considering that Karawang and Purwakarta are among the largest industrial areas in Indonesia with a significant workforce.
In a statement on Thursday (16/1/2024), the man known as Haji Jalal emphasized the importance of fast, comfortable, and efficient transportation access due to the high industrial activities in Karawang and Purwakarta. He highlighted that expanding the Commuter Line route could help alleviate the morning traffic congestion often seen on the Cikampek Toll Road.
The Need for Improved Transportation Infrastructure
Statistics from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) show that the total workforce in large and medium industries in Karawang amounts to 157,845 people, while in Purwakarta, it reaches 63,835 individuals. Karawang alone houses 787 private factories, 269 Domestic Investment (PMDN) factories, 638 Foreign Direct Investment (PMA) factories, and 58 joint venture factories, indicating a high level of economic activity and worker mobility in the area.
Government and Stakeholder Collaboration
Jalal emphasized the involvement of relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Transportation and the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), in supporting transportation infrastructure development in these regions. He stressed that the Ministry of Transportation plays a strategic role in ensuring public transportation development meets the needs of the community and workers, while the BKPM can encourage investors to participate in developing transportation facilities that support industrial areas.
Benefits of Commuter Line Expansion
By extending the Commuter Line to Karawang and Purwakarta, the mobility of residents in these areas can be better assured. The presence of mass transportation like the Commuter Line is expected to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, and provide a more economical transportation option for the community and industrial workers.
Jalal Abdul Nasir called on the central government, local authorities, and KAI to synergize in realizing this plan. With the support of relevant ministries like the BKPM, he hopes that transportation solutions in the industrial areas of Karawang and Purwakarta can be implemented soon.
Through these initiatives, Haji Jalal is optimistic that the residents and workers in Karawang and Purwakarta will soon enjoy a better public transportation system, supporting economic activities and bringing positive impacts to the growth of the industrial zones.
