The Bali Provincial Government is launching a free electric bus service on the Trans Sarbagita Corridor I route, starting Monday, 9th of November.
Head of the Bali Transportation Agency (Dishub Bali), I Kadek Mudarta, explained that passengers who do not yet have an electronic card can still use the service, as staff will provide payment cards on board the buses.
The operation of these eco-friendly electric buses will be managed by the Denpasar branch of Perum DAMRI, the official operator, under the supervision of the Bali Transportation Agency.
“Starting [the 9th of November], users can utilise the [electric] bus service for free during the trial period; however, they must still tap their e-money cards so that the number of passengers can be tracked,” Mudarta said on Sunday, the 8th of November.
In general, the electric bus route follows that of the conventional Trans Sarbagita Corridor I service, which connects the Ngurah Rai Sports Hall (GOR Ngurah Rai) to the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) tourist destination, with a few adjustments. Departing from GOR Ngurah Rai, the electric buses will travel along Jalan Melati, turn left onto Jalan Hayam Wuruk, and continue towards the Renon Roundabout. They will then pass through the central government district, traversing Jalan Raya Puputan and Jalan Sudirman, before joining the regular Trans Sarbagita route.
Separately, the government has also allocated a budget of approximately Rp2 trillion for the construction of an electric tram system in Bali. The project, which is being undertaken by PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), or KAI, will connect I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport with the Canggu area.
KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin stated that construction of the electric tram system is expected to take two years and will be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, the tram line will connect I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport to Legian. Subsequently, the second phase will extend the line from Legian to Canggu.
“We have conveyed that the budget for the rail service in Bali is around Rp2 trillion,” Rasyidin previously said after meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday, the 5th of November.