President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the start of a rail service in Bali and the accelerated revitalization of Jakarta’s Gambir Station, the Monas area, and the Grand National Museum, after summoning PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) chief executive Bobby Rasyidin and Minister of Culture Fadli Zon to the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the president issued the directives during the meeting, including the push to begin building the Bali rail line. In its first phase, the route is planned to connect I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport with tourist areas including Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Canggu, as well as areas in the north, Teddy said.
Gambir Station, Unrenovated Since the 1970s, to Become Integrated Hub
Prabowo wants the revitalization of Gambir Station carried out immediately, noting it has never been renovated since it was established in the 1970s. Teddy said the station is expected to become a national station hub integrated with entertainment, tourism and family recreation areas in the capital.
According to Kumparan, Bobby Rasyidin said the Gambir project would be carried out in two phases over an estimated two years, and that the station’s revitalization would also cover Taman Monas so both areas are arranged as one integrated zone. He added that the plan accounts for connectivity with other transport modes, including the Jakarta MRT.
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Bali Rail Line Budgeted at Over Rp 2 Trillion, Targeted for 2027
Kompas reported that Bobby said PT KAI itself would build the Bali rail project, with a budget of around Rp 2 trillion or more. Bali Governor Wayan Koster, speaking to Antara in September, said KAI had presented the plan three times, the budget was already prepared, and construction was to begin in 2027. The project is projected to help ease congestion, particularly on the route from Ngurah Rai Airport to the Canggu area.
Did You Know? Gambir Station has stood without renovation since it was established in the 1970s, and the revitalization is now planned in two phases over two years.
Grand National Museum Revitalization Also Accelerated
Prabowo also wants the revitalization of the Grand National Museum sped up. After the completion of the National Gallery and Museum Gajah revitalizations, Teddy said the president wants Indonesia to have a large-scale museum serving as a center of history, education, entertainment and recreation, particularly for students and young people.
Pemerintah Bakal Revitalisasi Kawasan Monas dan Stasiun Gambir! Prabowo Panggil Dirut KAI ke Istana, Bahas Revitalisasi Monas dan Kereta Api di Bali. – Pertemuan berlangsung Kamis (5/11/2026) di Istana Merdeka, Jakarta. – Prabowo memberikan arahan terkait revitalisasi kawasan… pic.twitter.com/jySLyoUF9R
Expert Insight: The meeting bundles transport and cultural infrastructure into a single presidential push: a rail link for Bali’s tourist corridor and a modernized station-monument-museum district in central Jakarta. The Bali line carries a price tag of over Rp 2 trillion and a 2027 start target, while the Gambir overhaul is a two-year, two-phase project — meaning both initiatives will run on multi-year timelines that extend well beyond this announcement.
Answers About the Planned Bali Rail Line and Station Revitalization
When will the Bali rail line be built?
According to Kompas, Governor Wayan Koster said construction is targeted to begin in 2027, after KAI presented the plan three times and the budget was prepared. The estimated budget is around Rp 2 trillion or more.
What route will the Bali train take in its first phase?
The first phase is planned to run from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport north to Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and ending in Canggu, with additional northern areas also mentioned in the plan.
How long will the Gambir Station revitalization take?
Kumparan reported that Bobby Rasyidin said the project would be done in two phases taking an estimated two years in total, and that it would be integrated with the Monas area and connected to the Jakarta MRT.
Which of these projects — the Bali rail line or the Gambir-Monas overhaul — will reshape daily life for you first?