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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Chair of the National Economic Council, claims that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train, also known as Whoosh, has had a significant economic impact on the regions it serves. Luhut made this statement while sharing his recent travel experience using Whoosh to Bandung."Despite the pros and cons, the fact is that Whoosh is now able to cover its operational costs and has served more than 12 million passengers since its operation from October 2023 to February 2025," Luhut declared via his Instagram account, @luhut.pandjaitan, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.He described this achievement as a starting point toward the efficient and responsible management of major projects. According to Luhut, the Whoosh project has proven that the government's strategic decisions are the beginning of Indonesia's self-reliance.Luhut also mentioned always choosing Whoosh when traveling to Bandung due to time efficiency, noting that a journey which used to take 3–4 hours can now be completed in just 30–60 minutes.The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project resurfaced after Danantara entered negotiations with China regarding debt restructuring. When Whoosh began operating, China and Indonesia agreed to inflate the project cost by US$1.2 billion. Consequently, the total project cost rose to US$7.27 billion, equivalent to approximately Rp118.4 trillion.The Indonesian government and China agreed that 75% of the increased cost would be covered by a new loan from the China Development Bank, with the remaining 25% coming from KCIC's equity.The high-speed train is one of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's signature policies. When met in Mangkubumen, Banjarsari District, Solo City, Central Java, on Monday, October 27, 2025, Jokowi declined to comment on the previous assertion by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa that the Whoosh project's debt would not be borne by the state budget.However, Jokowi later explained the background and primary purpose of the project development. According to him, Whoosh was built to address chronic congestion issues in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi (Jabodetabek), and Bandung areas. "The basic principle of mass transportation is public service. It's not about seeking profit but rather social benefits, social return on investment," Jokowi said.Minister Purbaya agreed with Jokowi's statement. The Whoosh project also aims to develop the surrounding regional economy. "But perhaps the underdeveloped areas, where there are stops near the Whoosh route, need to be developed so that the local economy grows. This should be developed in the future," Purbaya told reporters at Menara Bank Mega on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.Septia Ryanthie contributed to the reportEditor's Choice: Prabowo Orders Ministers to Devise Best Solution for Whoosh Train DebtClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
