State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno has assured that the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung high speed railway project would start next month, after years of delay.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo led the groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Cikalong Wetan, West Java, on Jan. 21, 2016.

Rini’s statement was made in Beijing after she met with representatives of the China Railway Corporation (CRC) — the parent company of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) — the company in charge of developing the project.

Rini, however, still hoped that the project construction could be accelerated to April, particularly, starting at 21 critical locations. She also expressed hope that the land acquisition could be completed in late May.

"The construction is expected to be accelerated to April so that we can see significant process,” said Rini in a statement received on Thursday, adding that CRC representatives were committed to the acceleration of the project construction.

KCIC and CRC have also planned transit-oriented development (TOD) projects in Halim, East Jakarta, and Walini, in West Bandung regency, said Rini.

She added that in the grand design, Walini was planned to be developed into a new city, located on 1,270 hectares of land.

During her visit to China, Rini was accompanied by a number of officials, including the minister’s special staff Sahala Lumban Gaol, the ministry’s deputy for financial, survey and consultant businesses Gatot Trihargo, ministry secretary Imam Aprianto Putro, KCIC acting president director Dwi Windarto and CEOs of several state-owned enterprises.

The train is designed to move at 350 kilometers per hour, meaning a Jakarta-Bandung trip would take only 40 minutes. (bbn)