REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi will beautify and beautify two historic railway stations that are relics of Dutch colonial times, namely Klaten Station in Central Java and Lempuyangan Station in Yogyakarta. This was stated by Budi Karya, when reviewing the existing condition of the buildings and the area of the two stations.

“In addition to preserving the station building, beautification was also carried out to promote customer comfort. Waiting room and passenger up and down circulation will be optimized,” Budi Karya said as quoted from his press release, Monday (11/3/2024).

Budi Karya called both stations of historical value. Klaten Station was part of the first railway line in Indonesia which was inaugurated on 9 July 1871 and also the first station built between Solo-Jogja. Currently in one month, the average number of passengers of Klaten Station long-distance trains amounts to 21,910 people departing and 21,109 people coming. Meanwhile, the average number of commuter rail passengers is 32,094 people per month.

Lempuyangan Station is one of the old stations in Yogyakarta. Lempuyangan Station or Djokdja Station was inaugurated on March 2, 1872 by the NISM (Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschaappij), an agency belonging to the Dutch colonial government engaged in the field of railway transport. Lempuyangan Station was the first station built in Yogyakarta, later followed by Yogyakarta Station.

Currently in one month Lempuyangan Station serves passengers of long-distance trains on average as 106,748 people depart and 106,383 people come. Meanwhile, the average number of commuter rail passengers is 64,210 people per month.

During the visit, Budi Karya also checked the ongoing beautification progress at Yogyakarta Station. The beautification of Yogyakarta Station is carried out by improving the spatial and visual quality of the buildings designated as cultural reserves, as well as maintaining, modifying, and also dismantling the buildings deemed necessary.

In addition to Klaten, Lempuyangan, and Yogyakarta stations, activities to beautify and beautify the station will also be carried out at Cirebon Station, Solo Balapan, Solo Jebres, and Solo Kota. “Hopefully, together with PT KAI we can revitalize and beautify a number of stations in Indonesia,” said Budi Karya.