AHY Weighs Water Taxis and Rail to Ease Bali Congestion
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said Bali was considering water taxis and rail development as public-transport options while tourism growth puts pressure on infrastructure and the environment.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 2 min read
Nusa Dua — On Nov. 7, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for infrastructure and regional development, said the central government was considering additional public-transport options for Bali, including a possible water-taxi service, alongside rail development.
Yudhoyono said Bali’s tourism expansion needed to be matched by stronger infrastructure and sufficient environmental capacity.
The minister said congestion could reduce visitors’ comfort and weaken Bali’s competitiveness as an international destination. He said he had coordinated several times with the minister of transportation and the minister of tourism on developing public transport beyond the modes already in use, including water taxis.
Why Bali’s transport debate matters to visitors and residents
For foreign visitors, the proposal points to a possible future expansion of travel options between coastal and tourism areas, but the reports do not announce a launch date, route, fare or operating rules. For foreign residents, it signals that transport planning is being framed not only around traffic but also around the island’s ability to support tourism without worsening pressure on daily life and the environment.
Yudhoyono also identified Bali’s development paradox: tourism is expected to continue growing, while the island’s carrying capacity must be protected. The issues he cited included spatial planning, waste management and water availability. Balipost reported that he also stressed connectivity, more even development between regencies and cities, and protection of coastal areas affected by abrasion and seawater intrusion.
The reports describe rail and water taxis as options under consideration rather than completed projects. They do not state when either service will begin. The immediate policy focus remains the central government’s coordination with relevant ministries on Bali’s infrastructure, public transport, environmental safeguards and tourism competitiveness.
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