Coronavirus Outbreak Affecting Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train Project
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21 February 2020 14:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta-Bandung fast train project is expected to see some delays in material supply shipment, as an effect of the coronavirus outbreak in China. Many of China's manufacturers have halted operations as workers are told to stay home to prevent the epidemic from spreading further.
Chandra Dharmaputra. President director of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-Cina (KCIC), said that because of the situations, supplies from China are not being shipped to Indonesia.
"The factories are not operating because of the coronavirus. We don’t know until when," he said in Jakarta, Friday, February 21.
Among the supplies from China's factories are waterproofing materials. Although China supplies less than 50 percent of the project's entire construction materials, the situation is affecting its progress.
To prevent progress delays, Chandra said they might start importing materials from other nations, so that the fast train can begin to operate as scheduled.
The KCIC is also dealing with problems in human resources, with some 300 workers stuck in China after going there to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The workers are unable to enter Indonesia as the government still bans all incoming flights from China.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
