| Bali Urban Subway | |
| Native Name: | Moda Raya Terpadu (MRT) Bali |
| Locale: | Bali, Indonesia |
| Transit Type: | Rapid transit |
| Lines: | 2 (under construction) 2 (planned) |
| Start: | Ngurah Rai International Airport (Phase 1) |
| End: | (Phase 1) |
| Began Operation: | Est 2031 |
| Character: | Underground |
| System Length: | 29.5km (18.3miles)[1] (under construction) over 60km (40miles) (preparation) |
| Top Speed: | 100 km/h (underground section) |
| Area Served: | Denpasar metropolitan area |
The Bali Mass Rapid Transit (id|Moda Raya Terpadu Bali; Bali MRT), or officially known as the Bali Urban Subway, is a rapid transit system that is currently being built in Bali, Indonesia. Along with the proposed Bali LRT, it is part of a government plan to ease traffic within the Denpasar metropolitan area in a project called the Bali Provincial Government Urban Railway.
Construction began in September 2024. Line 1 connecting Ngurah Rai International Airport to Cemagi and Line 2 connecting Ngurah Rai International Airport to Nusa Dua is estimated to open in 2031.[1]
Bali is the main tourist destination hub and largest city of the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia, harbouring 4.5 million inhabitants, of which nearly half are located in Denpasar metropolitan area. It is estimated that over 1 million residents and tourists commute daily in Denpasar metropolitan area each day. Transport issues are attracting increasing political attention with the government. Over 5.2 million international tourists visited Bali in 2023.[2] Denpasar is the busiest entry port to Indonesia ahead of Jakarta and Batam.[3] In 2019, around 1.3 million of foreign tourists came from Australia, 1.1 million from China, and 0.4 million from India.[4] Meanwhile, 9.5 million domestic tourists visited Bali in 2023.[5]
The idea of constructing an MRT in Bali appeared in 2022 after COVID-19 and recovery in tourism arrivals, because of congested and hazardous roads, and in popular and built-up areas, gridlock frustrates locals and tourists.[6]
The process of developing the first line of the Bali MRT began when President Joko Widodo designated the system as a national project. In September 2024, the project was collaborated with CRCC for the MRT project. In total, the investment value for the first two lines reached US$10.8 billion and for the entire four lines is US$20 billion.[1] Work on line 1 is expected to be slower due to rocky and hard underground conditions, compared to line 2 which can be faster because of the limestone or alluvial soil conditions which makes it easier during the drilling process.
At the same time as the inauguration of the first phase of the North-South Line, President Joko Widodo also launched the construction of the first phase of the Ngurah Rai Airport–Cemagi Line and the Ngurah Rai Airport–Nusa Dua Line. This project, known as the Bali Provincial Government Urban Railway, includes four "Bali Urban Railway" MRT lines.[7]
The routes innitially planned, devised, and belonging to the Bali provincial government are:[7]
The project is entirely financed by the private sector on a business-to-business basis, meaning that the Subway Bali project was to be developed without any funding from state or regional budgets or loans guaranteed by the government, either at the central or regional levels. The investment for the first phase (Lines 1 and 2) amounts to US$10.8 billion.[8] [9]
The investment value for Phase 2 (Lines 3 and 4) reached US$10 billion, bringing the total investment to US$20 billion.[8]
The Bali MRT is expected to stretch across over, with dedicated to the Ngurah Rai Airport–Cemagi line and to the Ngurah Rai Airport–Nusa Dua line. Trains will operate on the right-hand side, aligning with the current system used in Indonesian railways despite Indonesia’s left-hand road traffic system.
The following table lists the MRT lines that are currently under construction or planned as of September 2024. Planned lines are preliminary and could still be altered before entering construction phase.[10]
| Colour and line name | Line | Service commencement | Terminus | Stations | Length | Depot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under construction | ||||||
| Ngurah Rai Airport–Cemagi Line | 1 | 2028 | Ngurah Rai Airport Cemagi | TBA | Ngurah Rai | |
| Ngurah Rai Airport–Nusa Dua Line | 2 | 2031 | Ngurah Rai Airport Nusa Dua | TBA | Ngurah Rai | |
| Planned | ||||||
| Sentral Parkir Kuta–Sanur Line | 3 | TBA | Sentral Parkir Kuta Sanur | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Renon–Ubud Line | 4 | TBA | Renon Ubud | TBA | TBA | TBA |