Trust and Communication: Keys to Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway Construction

A remarkable project in the Belt and Road Initiative, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project in Indonesia, has been continuously pushed forward in the past three years with full consideration for the local culture and attention to its laws and regulations.

Carried out by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), which was established by a China and Indonesia state firm consortium, construction of the project began on June 9, 2018, with a time frame of 36 months.

It is China's first overseas order to build an entire high-speed train system with full industrial chains.

The Walini Tunnel, a continuous bridge, a gird fabrication yard, a simply supported girder bridge, service stations of the electric multiple units (EMUs) and the Tegalluar Station are currently under construction by China Railway Group Limited (CREC).

Special geological features present challenges for the project. For example, every April to October is the dry season in Indonesia and is the best period for construction. 

The soil in Bandung has a high ash content, which makes it light and weak. Such condition taken together made it difficult to secure the pile foundations and pier shafts when they are sunk to 20 to 35 meters even during dry season, not to mention the rainy days.

In addition, while the lack of suitable working days would seem to call for workers to put in longer shifts on dry days, local workers in Indonesia have a different system and a great deal of effort has been made to unify the working hour rules.

Communication is key to solving such problems.

Liu Yang, deputy manager of the second bureau of the project, said more trust between the Chinese and the Indonesian sides can bring better results.

Sahala Lumban Gaol, a special staffer of the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry of Indonesia, explained that CREC has advantages in professional technologies, human resources and capital.

He added that its people also highly value communication with local builders in Indonesia, which has produced deep friendships and smoothly advanced the project.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project in Indonesia is a remarkable project in the Belt and Road Initiative. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Hao Wen)