Bali advances plan for airport-to-Canggu electric tram

Bali is moving ahead with a plan for a small, battery-powered electric tram linking I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport with the tourist area of Canggu.

The Bali provincial government, Badung regency and state-owned railway company KAI signed an agreement for the project in Denpasar. Governor Wayan Koster said the tram should preserve tourist comfort while becoming a new attraction. The airport-to-Canggu corridor handles up to 150,000 people and 80,000 vehicles a day, according to the plan.

The proposed line would run for 12 kilometers, with a projected travel time of 30 minutes and departures every 10 minutes. It is expected to carry as many as 60,000 passengers daily, equivalent to 40% of regional mobility.

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Tourist comfort must be maintained, and the tram is expected to become a new attraction for Balinese tourism.

Koster said the vehicle would differ from a conventional train. It would be narrower than a bus, just over two meters wide, quiet and powered by batteries without overhead cables. The design aims to reduce environmental impact and noise while serving residents and visitors.

Officials will conduct technical studies and public outreach with stakeholders and traditional villages. Koster said development must protect Bali's ecosystem, beauty and local communities. A groundbreaking is planned for March 2027, the first route is expected to open in 2028, and the full Canggu line is targeted for completion in 2029.

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Transportation development must maintain Bali's uniqueness, preserve its beauty, support tourism, and avoid disrupting the lives of the surrounding communities.