Bali’s provincial administration plans to restart the Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) bus service next month after halting operations earlier this year due to the end of central government funding.
The bus operator announced on New Year’s Day that the national Transportation Ministry’s Buy The Service (BTS) subsidy, which had kept TMD running since September 2020 at an annual cost of Rp 90 billion (US$5.48 million), had dried up. The lack of funding forced the service to a standstill, prompting public calls for its return.
“We are currently preparing the operational tender. Once the agreement is signed, we will start operations [again], hopefully by the end of April, because the public has been strongly advocating for the return [of TMD],” Bali Governor I Wayan Koster said on Wednesday in Badung Regency, as quoted by Antara.
Regional Cost-Sharing Agreement
Koster confirmed that the mayor of Denpasar and the regents of Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan had agreed to jointly fund the public bus service.
“Previously, the funding came from the state budget, but now we will jointly fund it through the regional budgets of Bali, Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan,” he said.
Under the agreement, the provincial government will cover 30 percent of the costs, while the three regencies will contribute the remaining 70 percent. Wealthier regions like Badung and Denpasar will assume a larger share to support Tabanan, which has a smaller regional revenue base.
Service Adjustments
Bali Transportation Agency head IGW Samsi Gunarta confirmed the TMD bus service would resume with modifications.
“We have made the necessary calculations, reorganized the system and finalized the routes. Now, we just need to determine the operating schedule and assess the traffic density in different areas,” Gunarta said.
Changes include shifting TMD from a bus rapid transit (BRT) system to a regular bus service and reducing the fleet from over 100 buses to 76.
Budget Cuts Impact Public Transport
The suspension of TMD was part of a broader funding squeeze after the Transportation Ministry slashed this year’s budget allocation for regional public transit development by 60 percent—from Rp 437 billion in 2024 to just Rp 177 billion. The cuts align with President Prabowo Subianto’s sweeping budget reductions to finance major initiatives, including his free nutritious meal program.
With regional governments stepping in, Bali’s public transport system is set to get back on track—albeit with a leaner fleet and adjusted operations.
