Elevated Railway To Be Built Between Medan And Kualanamu Airport

Medan, Dec 9 (Antara)- The government has set aside Rp3.8 trillion to build a 29 kilometer elevated railway between the North Sumatra city of Medan and the new Kualanamu international airport. The elevated double track would facilitate transport between the provincial city and one of the country`s busiest airports and to cope with traffic jams in railroad crossings. Railroad already in operation between Medan and Kualanamu with many railroad crossings. Deputy vice president of the Northern Sumatra branch of the state owned railway company Saridal said there are 23 railroad crossings between Medan and Kualanamu including 11 in Medan alone. Saridal said construction of the elevated railways would require relocation of people illegally occupying land belonging to the railway company. Construction is expected to start next year to be completed in two to three years, deputy transport minister Bambang Susantono said here on Monday. The elevated rail track would give greater convenient to passengers and cope with traffic jams in the many railroad crossings between Medan and the airport, Bambang said. He said construction would be carried out by phases starting between Aras Kabu and Bandar Khalifah 15 kilometers long in 2014, to be followed with construction of 9 kilometer track between Bandar Khalifah and Medan and 4.8 kilometers between Aras Kabu- Kualanamu in 2015.