Durian. President Joko Widodo on Wednesday kicked off the operation of the first railway on Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island in a inaugural ceremony.
The ceremony to mark the beginning of Trans Makassar-Parepare Railway operation was held at Maros Train Depo in South Sulawesi.
The line will so far serve an 80-km route, from total plan of 145 km.
Construction works of the project have completed 125 km of rail track.
President Widodo and entourage boarded the train from Maros Station towards Rammang-Rammang Station before continued his next agenda.
In his remarks, President Widodo said he hope the project in the future can connect southern and northern parts of Sulawesi, Makassar and Manado.
By developing such as Trans Sulawesi railway project, President Widodo hoped that traffic congested problem across Indonesia can be solved.
Indonesia was late to improve its public transportation system for 30 years, so it needs to change the habit of Indonesians from using prefer private vehicles to love for riding public transportation, the president said.
