The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Transportation, is preparing a water taxi project in Bali to ease congestion in key tourism areas, particularly in Badung Regency. The project is scheduled to begin construction in 2026, with an initial investment estimated at IDR 1.21 trillion.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi said the programme forms part of efforts to integrate land, sea and air transport.
“Water taxis are an alternative solution for integrating land, sea, and air transportation to reduce traffic congestion in Bali Province, particularly in Badung Regency,” he said during a working meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the Parliament Complex on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, as qouted from Kompas.com.
The ministry stated that PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry is currently preparing the Detailed Engineering Design (DED), which will serve as the basis for construction. Work is expected to begin in August 2026 and continue until July 2027.
Dudy said the project will proceed in stages, including finalising pre-design studies, completing the DED, accelerating programme implementation, and preparing for operational trials.
Airport–Canggu Route to Cut Travel Time
The main route under the project will connect I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport with the Canggu area, one of Bali’s busiest tourism hubs. The government expects the service to significantly reduce travel time between the two locations.
“Based on field observations, the land travel time from Ngurah Rai Airport to Canggu is one to two hours, while with a water taxi it is expected to only be around 30 minutes,” Dudy said.
The water taxi is designed as a short-distance maritime transport service, operating in a similar way to land-based taxis. It will allow passengers to travel between strategic coastal points without relying on congested roads.
In addition to efficiency, the government considers the system more environmentally friendly, as it is expected to reduce the volume of vehicles on Bali’s roads.
However, Dudy noted that supporting infrastructure is required to ensure safety. “The construction of breakwater facilities is necessary to ensure operational safety in waters with quite dynamic conditions,” he said.
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Timeline Questions After Earlier 2025 Plan
The latest timeline raises questions, as the water taxi concept had already been discussed in 2025 with an earlier operational target.
As reported last year by CNNIndonesia, Deputy Minister of Transportation Suntana previously said the service was expected to begin operating in December 2025.
“We’ve discussed it. The Minister of Transportation plans to reduce congestion from the airport to Seminyak–Uluwatu. We will try using the sea route,” he said at Benoa Harbour on Friday, 28 February 2025.
The earlier plan included routes linking the airport with Seminyak, Kuta and Uluwatu in South Kuta District.
With construction now scheduled to begin in August 2026, it remains unclear whether the initial December 2025 operational target will be met or formally revised.
The water taxi project forms part of a wider infrastructure strategy by the Bali provincial government to address congestion. Governor Wayan Koster said several projects are being prepared, including road development, parking facilities, and new connections between tourist areas.
“The Minister of Public Works and Public Housing is assisting with quite a lot of strategic infrastructure for Bali in 2026. All of this is to alleviate congestion and support regional economic growth,” Koster said.
