Feature: Southeast Asia's 1st high-speed railway to enhance connectivity, boost economic benefits in Indonesia

With smiling faces and great enthusiasm villagers from the Bandung Barat district of West Java hailed officials and other stakeholders, as the region gears up to having Southeast Asia's very first high-speed railway.

Despite being located in a remote area with poor road facilities and, being hit by mudslides after heavy downpours, the villagers congregating along the streets to watch the groundbreaking scene still looked radiant Thursday. Banners and other accessories decorated the yards of houses, as the villagers welcomed in a new era of connectivity and not isolation, as well as the economic benefits the project will bring.

The 5.5-billion-U.S.-dollar railway project is a collaboration between Indonesian and Chinese firms, and is expected to be ready to serve in early 2019.

"This is a new breakthrough in transportation and is such a positive move as we will no longer have to spend so much time on our journeys. There are so many benefits we are all looking forward to," said Ahmad Zainudin Ansory, 35, one of the villagers.

"Thank God. I am so happy. Many of us have relatives and family members in Jakarta. I have sons and daughters living in Jakarta, so we can visit them easily," Ritje Rita Yulia, 62, a villager from the Walini sub-district, told Xinhua enthusiastically.

The high-speed railway, linking Indonesia's capital Jakarta and the fourth largest city of Bandung, has a distance of approximately 150 km. Travel time between the two cities will be cut from more than three hours at present to less than 40 minutes once the project is finished.

In his speech just before the groundbreaking ceremony, Indonesian President Joko Widodo stressed that the project is part of the nation's efforts to pursue competitiveness.

"This high-speed railway is one of those needed for our future success and will greatly reduce the transportation time of both people and products," Widodo said.

With many cities burdened by heavy traffic jams, the project is one of the solutions which may reduce the volume of vehicles on the roads.

"Many cities are now suffering from too many traffic jams. The solution is mass transportation. And the high-speed railway project must be our priority," said the Indonesian president.

Adiyoto, 57, another villager, expects the project to reduce traffic jams on the streets and roads he uses.

"I think thousands of vehicles from Jakarta enter the Bandung Barat district every weekend. I hope later more people will use the high-speed railway service, so that the congestion on the roads will be eased," he said.

State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno has said that the toll road between Jakarta and Bandung has almost reached its maximum volume of vehicles.

"Traffic jams are a common sight along the toll road. So if some of the passengers can switch their mode of transportation from cars to trains, it will make the toll road less congested, so trucks and trailers can deliver goods faster," the minister told Xinhua.

Projecting better transport access, several property developers have invested in the Bandung Barat district, as the economy and demand for housing may rise after many young workers choose to settle in the area.

"I think this project could help accelerate the economy in Bandung Barat, as people will be able to connect over long distances far quicker and with more convenience," said Adiyoto.

"This area may now develop quickly. Many buyers of our agricultural products can come easily here," said Iin Solihin, 55, also a villager.

"There have been three property projects here because the demand has risen. Many people have moved to settle here because they do not think the distance will be a problem anymore. My sons will also purchase land here," said Tresnandar Nomad, a 69-year-old from the village.

"With this project, more vacationers may visit here," said Ansory.

President Widodo, who came into office in October 2014, has pledged to, during his tenure, increase GDP growth to more than 7 percent by ushering in such weighty infrastructural projects.

A raft of policy reforms in the economic stimulus package he has issued recently, are aimed at attracting further foreign investment. Endit