News: 23 November 2022

This week I asked the question what would Bali look like if it had a metro system? I made a composite metro map of proposed railways in Bali, along with my own modifications. It’s already turning out to be my most popular post, so people either want more metro maps, or they want a metro on Bali (or both).

If you are new here, I have previously made a Ho Chi Minh City concept map, and I have some more maps in the pipeline. I contract a designer to make these maps, so If you would like to support my work, consider upgrading to a paid subscription.

Latest posts at Future Southeast Asia

Bali Railway Concept Map

This is a concept map of a Bali railway system, including an island circle line, a high-speed railway to Java, and an urban rail transit system in South Bali.

News

APEC 2022 has been and gone in Bangkok, but a more relevant meeting to this site is the ESCAP Committee on Transport, Seventh session. This is being held in Bangkok from 23-25 November, and the agenda includes the “Review of the implementation of the Regional Action Programme for Sustainable Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific (2022–2026).”

🇰🇭 Cambodia

• New Phnom Penh airport expected to play key role in boosting growth in Cambodia

This article has a video that shows the terminal building under construction. It’s massive, and it is going to put the much-delayed Long Thanh International Airport of HCMC to shame if it is built first.

• Koh Kong Darasakor Airport operations may be delayed

• Koh Kong residents complain against illegal construction into sea

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• BI to start preparations for relocation to Nusantara in 2023

[Updated: Nusantara]

• Mount Rinjani cable car construction to start in December

G20 Aftermath

• Indonesia bags pledges for $71bn from G-20 presidency: Jokowi

• President proposes new capital Nusantara as 2036 Olympics host

• Jokowi and Xi witness trial of China-made high-speed train in Indonesia

• Indonesia, China and the future of the Belt and Road

“Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail showcased at G20 Summit but long-delayed project has been more risk than reward for Indonesia.”

• Bali received over $51 million in infrastructural developments to host G20 summit

🇱🇦 Laos

• S. Korean company invests in accommodation to boost Lao real estate market

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• GE15: Chong Sin Woon seeks to open an spur line from ECRL in Raub

[Updated: East Coast Rail Link]

• Premier: Sarawak’s ART expected to reduce Kuching’s carbon footprint by 15 pct

[Updated: Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) Kuching]

• Cleaning the Klang River

🇵🇭 Philippines

•P175-billion Bataan-Cavite bridge construction to start in 2024

•'Actual' excavation of Metro Manila Subway starts December: DOTr

• Railway projects to be crippled by cuts in DOTr budget: solon

•Gov’t gauging level of private interest in EDSA busway, north rail PPPs

🇸🇬 Singapore

•IN FOCUS: Why does Singapore build flats ‘to order’? A look at the BTO system's past, present and future

• BTO roulette: Calling it quits after 13 failed applications

“How many times is too many times to bid for a Build-to-Order (BTO) flat in Singapore? Twice? Three times? Perhaps, the fourth time’s the charm.”

🇹🇭 Thailand

• Progress report on new city rail links

• BTS Skytrain demands 40 million baht debt is paid

• In Thailand, there is life beyond the capital

“In an over-centralized country, not all roads should lead to Bangkok.”

🇻🇳 Vietnam

• Hanoi downtown upgrade a mess, public infrastructure not prioritized

• Vietnam nears $11 billion-plus deal to shift economy from coal

• PM pushes military land handover for Tan Son Nhat's new terminal

• Da Nang authorities propose building new airport terminal

• Skylight takes shape at downtown terminal of Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line

[Updated: Ben Thanh Station]