President Joko Widodo has emphasized that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, known as Whoosh, is not merely a business venture but a long-term solution to severe traffic congestion in Jakarta, Jabodetabek, and Bandung. He stressed that mass transportation should prioritize public service and social benefits over financial profits.
On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Indonesia's seventh president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), made his statement in Jakarta regarding the Whoosh high-speed train project. According to Jokowi, the project is an integral part of efforts to alleviate increasingly severe traffic congestion in the metropolitan areas of Jakarta, Jabodetabek, and Bandung. He explained that Whoosh is designed as mass transportation focused on public service.
Jokowi emphasized that the fundamental principle of mass transportation is public service, not financial gain. “The basic principle of mass transportation is public service. We must understand this; it's not about seeking profit. So, once again, mass transportation or public transport is not measured by profit, but by social benefits. Social return on investment, for example, reducing carbon emissions,” he said.
This statement from Jokowi underscores that the success of projects like Whoosh should be evaluated based on social impacts, such as reducing carbon emissions and improving public mobility. The report was prepared by M Alfian Choir and edited by Agung Sasongko for Republika.co.id.