The Indonesian Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, is pushing for the accelerated development of water taxis and piers in Bali, which is estimated to shorten the commute from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport to Canggu from approximately two hours to just 30 minutes.
Purwagandhi explained that the development of water taxis is an alternative solution to integrate land, sea, and air transportation, while reducing traffic congestion, especially in Badung Regency. PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry is currently preparing a detailed engineering design (DED) study. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2026 and continue until July 2027.
“Based on field observations, the land travel time from Ngurah Rai Airport to Canggu is one to two hours, while the water taxi is expected to only take around 30 minutes,” he said during a Working Meeting with Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives at the Parliament Building on Wednesday, the 8th of April.
According to Purwagandhi, the investment required to develop a water taxi system in Bali amounts to Rp1.21 trillion.
“The estimated initial investment is Rp1.21 trillion. To ensure safety and security in these extreme waters, a layout with breakwaters is required,” he explained.
The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, will expedite the project’s progress. These stages include finalising the design study and preparing for operational trials.
“As a follow-up to the planning study of the water taxi programme, the Ministry of Transportation, through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, has outlined several key points, including the finalisation of the pre-design study or overlap study and the basic design,” Purwagandhi added.
As a short-term solution, Purwagandhi has also requested that PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) develop ports, particularly in Ketapang, by opening a new pier in Gilimanuk. He hopes to establish an area that can be used as a partner port to receive ships from Ketapang, including the provision of a buffer zone to anticipate high traffic volumes.
“Especially next year, [as] Nyepi and Eid al-Fitr will fall close together,” he noted.