Bali's Ambitious $20 Billion Underground Railway Project Seeks Investors

Indonesia's Bali is seeking investments for a $20 billion underground railway network. The project will be completed in four stages, aiming to connect key tourist areas by 2031. The provincial government has appointed PT Bumi Indah as the main investor to attract further investors.

Indonesia's resort island of Bali is actively seeking investors to fund an ambitious 325 trillion rupiah ($20 billion) underground railway network, starting in September, according to officials.

The proposed metro line will be constructed in four stages, with the goal of connecting Bali's capital, Denpasar, to major tourist hotspots such as Seminyak, Canggu, Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Ubud. Ari Askhara, a representative of the Bali government, made the announcement on Wednesday via state news agency Antara.

The objective is to establish rail connectivity between Denpasar, Canggu, and Nusa Dua by 2031. Bali's provincial government has selected PT Bumi Indah as the primary investor for the project, with the company now tasked with securing additional investment, Ari confirmed. This initiative is part of Indonesia's broader strategy under President Joko Widodo to ramp up the nation's rail infrastructure—including a 142 km high-speed railway linking Jakarta and Bandung, valued at $7.3 billion.

(With inputs from agencies.)