Bali, Badung and KAI Advance Battery-Powered Tram Plan from Airport to Canggu

Denpasar — Bali’s provincial government and Badung Regency have signed a cooperation agreement with PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) to advance plans for a battery-powered electric tram linking I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport with Canggu, as part of efforts to ease congestion in South Bali.

The agreement was signed on 1 September 2026, according to property and local news outlets citing provincial and regency officials. The planned corridor would run via Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, with an overall route length of around 13–13.1 kilometres.

According to information published by Badung Regency, the project is structured in two phases: Phase 1A from the airport to Legian, approximately 6.6 kilometres, and Phase 1B from Legian through Seminyak to Canggu, about 6.5 kilometres. Badung’s plan targets commercial operations on the first phase in the fourth quarter of 2028 and on the second phase in the first quarter of 2031.

Planned service and capacity

Several reports describe the tram as a battery-powered electric system intended to provide an alternative to private vehicles along one of South Bali’s busiest travel corridors. Preliminary planning data cited by local media indicate an estimated travel time of about 23 minutes between the airport and Legian and around 40 minutes between the airport and Canggu.

The service is being designed with departures roughly every 10 minutes, with an initial capacity of 15,000–20,000 passengers per day and a projected maximum of up to 60,000 passengers daily when fully developed. These figures are based on KAI’s projections and Badung government data and are intended to cover a significant share of mobility demand on the airport–Canggu corridor.

Travel time from the airport to Canggu is generally projected in the 30–40 minute range, depending on the final alignment and operating speed. Detailed operational parameters such as exact journey times, stop locations and rolling stock specifications remain subject to ongoing technical studies.

Project status and timeline

The cooperation agreement establishes a framework for joint work between the provincial government, Badung Regency and KAI on technical research, route planning and project preparation, rather than a full construction contract. Badung Regency states that the tram is being developed under the Bali Low Emission Zone Initiative as a mass transit solution for South Bali.

Groundbreaking for the infrastructure is targeted for March 2027, according to statements by KAI and regional officials reported by Indonesian media and local outlets. Earlier coverage and some summaries refer to an original goal of completing the full airport–Canggu route by 2029, but more recent Badung government data set a later target of 2031 for the second-phase extension to Canggu.

Local authorities and KAI have emphasised that the project remains in the technical research and planning stage, and that the final route, phasing and timeline may still change as studies are completed and approvals secured. No detailed public information has yet been released on project financing arrangements or procurement for construction and rolling stock.

Traffic and community considerations

The airport–Canggu corridor has been identified by regional planners as one of South Bali’s most congested areas, with heavy daily movements of residents, workers and visitors. Officials and KAI have presented the tram as part of a broader strategy to expand more sustainable public transport while supporting tourism and local mobility.

Reports note that future planning will need to address local community needs, tourism operators, environmental considerations and Bali’s cultural character. Badung Regency has framed the tram as an element of a low-emission transport network, but detailed land acquisition plans and formal impact assessments have not yet been widely published.

Sources

• Badung Regency Government – "Gandeng PT. KAI, Pemkab Badung Siapkan Moda Trem Penghubung Kuta hingga Canggu"
• Gobaligo – "Bali Tram System to Break Ground in 2027!"
• Villa Bali Sale – "Bali’s airport-to-canggu tram is moving forward"
• Liputan6 – "Bali Bakal Punya Trem Bandara-Canggu, Dibangun Mulai Maret 2027"
• Bisnis.com – "Wacana Trem dan Water Taxi Jadi Solusi Kemacetan di Bali, Efektifkah?"
• RRI Denpasar – "Trem Listrik Bandara–Canggu Ditargetkan Beroperasi Bertahap Mulai 2028"
• Bali Discovery – "Indonesian State Railways to Develop an Electric Tram Connecting Bali’s Airport & Canggu"
• KFMap – "Bali to Get Ngurah Rai Airport - Canggu Tram, Targeted to Operate by 2031"