Jakarta, January 28,  2021

Commission V of the House gave appreciation to the Director-General of Railways for the achievement of the Directorate General of Railway's budget realization in 2020 which reached 93.85%, as well as the planned refocusing of the 2021 Directorate General of Railways budget. This appreciation was conveyed in a Hearing Meeting (RDP) organized by the Commission V of the House by inviting the Director-General of Railways and the Director-General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation on Thursday, January 28, 2021

On this occasion, Director General of Railways Zulfikri said that the initial ceiling of the Directorate General of Railways for 2020 was 12 trillion. However, in line with the issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 54 of 2020 regarding Changes in Posture and Budget Savings, the Budget of the Directorate General of Railways became 10 Trillion, with the realization achievement reaching 93.85 or an increase of almost 10% compared to 2019. The details of the budget realization include expenditure on goods reaching 99.59%, capital expenditure reached 93.05%, and personnel expenditure reached 95.30%.

One of the focuses of the 2020 budget realization is the Intensive Work Program which has been implemented in 11 Provinces that absorb 6,788 workers, with wages reaching 41 billion. In the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, of course, Padat Karya is one of the stimuli in the midst of the economic difficulties that have hit the people of Indonesia. "The 2020 Intensive Work Program is carried out to improve railway facilities and infrastructure, as well as support the national economic recovery program due to the entry of the Covid-19 pandemic into Indonesia," said Zulfikri..

In 2021, the Directorate General of Railways has allocated a budget of 11 trillion spread across 15 work units within the Directorate General of Railways, both Central and Central with a realization target of 96.34%. However, over time, in accordance with the Instruction of the Minister of Finance regarding the refocusing of the Ministry's budget posture for 2021, the Directorate General of Railways has cut 26.3% of the total 2021 budget to 8 Trillion Rupiahs.

In carrying out this refocusing, the Directorate General of Railways continues to prioritize the 2021 Strategic Activities to continue to realize optimal rail transportation services. These strategic activities include support for the construction of urban railway lines, railways supporting the State Capital (IKN), Construction of Railways in 5 regions, Maintenance and Operation of State-Owned Railways (IMO), Provision of Railway Pioneer Subsidies in 9 Railroads, railway programs which are included in the National Strategic Program (PSN), as well as the Intensive Work Program.

This refocusing plan received a positive response and approval from members of Commission V of the House as a result of this RDP. This support and approval were obtained after seeing the budget refocusing plan of the Directorate General of Railways for 2021 which is clearly described in terms of its allocation and use plan. In addition, the members of the board considered that the program and services of the railway infrastructure had experienced a significant improvement so that the programs that had been prepared needed support to continue to be implemented properly.

In addition to supporting the refocusing of the 2021 budget, Commission V of the DPR RI has also asked the Directorate General of Railways to continue to improve synchronization and coordination with the Regional Government and related Government Agencies, particularly for the optimization of the Intensive Work Program and support in the National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN).

Meanwhile, Joni Allen Marbun, a member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives said that “The Directorate General of Railways needs to re-evaluate the plans for the construction of railway lines, especially Airport Trains. Some of these airports need to be re-examined whether they really need airport trains or not, because it is feared that they will not benefit the community.” Of course, this was responded positively by Zulfikri considering that the Directorate General of Railways itself is currently planning several airport train developments, especially in the KSPN and agglomeration areas.

The Hearing Meeting, which was held under strict health protocols, was also attended directly by the Secretary of the Directorate General of Railways, the Directors within the Directorate General of Railways and the Heads of the Technical Center within the Directorate General of Railways who were present virtually, with the hope that the results of the meeting could be followed up quickly.