Bali provincial officials and state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia signed a formal cooperation agreement on Tuesday to develop a battery-powered electric tram system linking I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport to Canggu. The project aims to ease congestion along the high-traffic tourism corridor and support tourism, according to state-owned news agency ANTARA News.
The 12-Kilometer Corridor Targeting Bali’s Gridlock
The proposed tram route spans 12 kilometers and targets a corridor that handles daily traffic volume of up to 150,000 people and 80,000 vehicles, according to statements from Bali Governor Wayan Koster reported by Tempo.co. The transport initiative follows an initial joint proposal by the Ministry of National Development Planning and the Bali provincial government.
Capacity, Speed, and Frequency Projections
Planners project that the transit system will accommodate up to 60,000 passengers daily, covering roughly 40 percent of mobility along the corridor. Operational plans indicate that individual trams will complete the journey in 30 minutes, running on a 10-minute departure interval.
Battery-Powered Engineering and Spatial Integration
Unlike conventional trains, the rolling stock is engineered with a compact body slightly more than two meters wide. According to ANTARA News, the vehicles will rely on battery power rather than overhead cables, maintaining a quiet profile designed to limit noise pollution.
Governor Koster emphasized that infrastructure design must respect local settlements, tourist accommodations, and Bali’s ecosystem. PT Kereta Api Indonesia President Director Bobby Rasyidin noted that the company will integrate cultural, environmental, and social considerations directly into the planning stage.
Phased Construction Milestones Through 2029
Following the Tuesday signing ceremony in Denpasar—which included participation from the Badung Regency Government—local authorities plan to begin technical studies and public outreach immediately. Officials confirmed that engagement will involve traditional villages along the alignment.
Groundbreaking for the corridor infrastructure is scheduled for March 2027. Project milestones indicate that the first route will begin operations in 2028, with the entire line extending to Canggu slated for completion by 2029.
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