Previously Criticized, What are Citizens' Views on the Benefits of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail?

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail (KCJB) project has faced significant criticism, largely due to cost overruns and perceived inadequate planning.

According to Merdeka.com, Arya Sinulingga, Special Staff to the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), confirmed cost overruns in the project. The government utilized the State Budget (APBN) through a state capital injection (PMN) scheme, a process Arya described as lengthy.

Separately, transportation observer Djoko Setijowarno acknowledged that cost overruns are common in infrastructure projects. However, he maintained that the initial planning for the high-speed rail project lacked thoroughness.

"But the project is nearing completion; we must avoid it becoming stalled, like the Hambalang project. It must be realized," Djoko told VOA Indonesia on Friday, February 17, 2023.

What, then, is public perception regarding the project's importance and future benefits?

A survey by Kurious-Katadata Insight Center (KIC) reveals that the majority of Indonesians view the KCJB construction as important and beneficial.

Kurious-KIC used a 1-5 scale in this survey. Higher scores indicate the project is considered very important/beneficial, while lower scores indicate it is considered very unimportant/unbeneficial. A score of 3 represents a neutral assessment.

Regarding importance, 32.6% of respondents rated the KCJB construction a 5 (very important). This was followed by 23.4% rating it a 3 (neutral), and 22.3% rating it a 4.

Only 13% rated the project a 1 (very unimportant), followed by 8.7% rating it a 2.

Similarly, regarding usefulness, 31.9% of respondents rated the KCJB construction a 5 (very beneficial). This was followed by 25% rating it a 3 (neutral) and 23.1% rating it a 4.

Conversely, 11.2% of respondents rated the project a 1 (very unbeneficial), while 8.7% rated it a 2.

The KCJB is slated to commence operations on August 18, 2023. This infrastructure project is part of the National Strategic Project (PSN) and is a joint undertaking between Indonesia and China.

The Kurious-KIC survey involved 622 respondents across various regions of Indonesia, with 45.3% male and 54.7% female respondents.

Over half of the respondents were from Java (excluding Jakarta) at 63.7%, followed by Jakarta (14.5%) and Sumatra (12.2%). Respondents from Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali-Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku-Papua ranged from 0.5% to 4.5%.

Most respondents were aged 35-44 (33.6%), followed by the 25-34 age group (27.3%) and the 45-54 age group (23.2%).

The survey, conducted from June 12-22, 2023, utilized computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI), with a margin of error of approximately 3.92% and a 95% confidence level.