The ambitious Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Train (KCJB) project, now known as Whoosh, has once again become a public spotlight. The project’s debt has reached around Rp116 trillion, a massive figure that, according to several experts, was already predicted years ago.
One of the early warners was public policy expert Agus Pambagio. He revealed that back in 2016, he had personally warned President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) about the potential financial burden this project could cause. Unfortunately, his warning wasn’t taken seriously.
“At that time, I already told President Jokowi directly. Even Ignasius Jonan, who was then the Minister of Transportation, had also warned him. But sadly, he didn’t listen,” Agus said during an interview on the Dialog NTV Prime YouTube channel, Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
According to Agus, both he and Jonan had concluded early on that the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail project wasn’t economically or technically feasible. However, the decision ultimately rested with the president.
“I asked, ‘Whose idea was this, sir?’ and he answered, ‘It’s my idea,’” Agus recalled.
For context, the Whoosh project’s funding primarily comes from loans provided by the China Development Bank (CDB). The loan carries an annual interest rate of about 2 percent, meaning Indonesia must pay significant interest each year.
The total investment value for the Whoosh project is estimated at 7.27 billion US dollars, or roughly Rp120.38 trillion, exceeding initial projections and contributing to the ballooning debt.
Now that the project is officially operating, many are questioning whether the financial returns will truly match the enormous debt burden. Still, the government remains optimistic that Whoosh will bring long-term economic benefits, especially in improving transportation efficiency and developing areas along the rail corridor.
For analysts, however, this serves as a valuable lesson about the importance of thorough planning and realistic economic assessments before pursuing large-scale infrastructure projects.
