Bali Provincial Government has officially resumed operations of the Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) bus service after a four-month suspension.
The service was relaunched on April 18, 2025, at Gedung Kertha Sabha, marked by the signing of a financial cooperation agreement with the governments of Badung, Gianyar, Tabanan, and Denpasar City.
According to Samsi Gunarta, Head of the Provincial Transportation Agency, this initiative reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing public transport access, aligned with Law No. 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation and Government Regulation No. 5 of 2023 on regional taxation.
The move also responds to the community’s ongoing dependence on public transportation.
Local Government Support
The renewed service of Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) covers 6 main corridors, including routes connecting Terminal Pesiapan, Central Parking Kuta, Ubung, Ngurah Rai Airport, Sanur, Monkey Forest, and Nusa Dua. Samsi noted:
According to Diksi Merdeka, “A total of 76 bus units will be prepared for operations, with 69 buses in daily use and the remainder on standby.”
To fund the operations, over Rp 49 billion has been allocated, with 30% from the provincial budget and the remaining 70% shared by the participating municipalities. Samsi stressed the importance of support from local governments to promote the service and ensure sufficient ridership.
According to Update Bali, “We hope this service will serve as an alternative in congested areas, and help reduce the number of private vehicles on our main roads,” he stated.
Suspension Led to Protest
Bali Governor Wayan Koster reaffirmed that public transportation is a fundamental right of the people:
“This (public transportation) is a basic service, a right of the people that must be fulfilled. The state has an obligation to ensure this right is met.”
He explained that the TMD program was initiated five years ago by the Ministry of Transportation, based on his proposal, and had been fully funded by the central government until 2025, with an annual budget of Rp 80 billion.
However, a policy shift at the national level led to the termination of funding, communicated only after the 2025 regional budgets had been finalized.
“As a result, neither the provincial nor the local governments had allocated operational funds, which led to the temporary suspension of Trans Metro Dewata services,” Koster said.
Public concern over the suspension led to protests and calls for service restoration. This prompted coordination between the provincial and regional leaders, ultimately resulting in an agreement to resume TMD.
The relaunch supports efforts to build an efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable transportation system for Bali. Governor Koster emphasized that the goal is not profit.
“TMD is not about making profits, but rather a public service to fulfill the right of Balinese people to decent transportation.”
The ceremony also included the signing of agreements on Special Financial Assistance for infrastructure development in six other regencies, funded through hospitality and culinary sectors in Badung, Denpasar, and Gianyar.
“This initiative represents a form of interregional solidarity and a step toward equitable and sustainable development throughout Bali,” Koster stated. The event concluded with a symbolic bus ride from Jayasabha to Ngurah Rai Sport Center, officially restarting TMD operations.
Sources: Diksi Merdeka, Update Bali
Feat Image: via Ministry of Transportation