Ethos and Pragmatic Law Review
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): Law and Justice

Legal Analysis Of The Failed Investment Of The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail Project: Ambition Vs Reality

Widi Nugrahaningsih (Duta Bangsa Surakarta University, Central Java, Indonesia)
Seroja Kusuma Dewi (Duta Bangsa Surakarta University, Central Java, Indonesia)
Rini Diah Puri Handayani (Duta Bangsa Surakarta University, Central Java, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
18 Jan 2026

Abstract

The Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Railway (KCJB) project, operated by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), represents Indonesia’s strong ambition to accelerate national strategic infrastructure development and strengthen bilateral cooperation with China. Nevertheless, behind its physical progress, the project has encountered serious challenges characterized by investment failure, including cost overruns, construction delays, and potential legal disputes. This article aims to analyze the failure of the KCJB investment from a legal perspective by examining the gap between infrastructure ambitions and Indonesia’s regulatory realities. This study employs a normative legal research method using statutory and conceptual approaches, supported by an extensive review of primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials. The analysis reveals that the KCJB investment failure is largely driven by weak regulatory harmonization, legal uncertainty, imbalanced contract structures, and the complexity of financing schemes that were insufficiently anticipated within the existing legal framework. Furthermore, the absence of competitive tendering processes, overlapping authorities between central and regional governments, and limited legal protection for public interests have significantly increased investment risks. These conditions have ultimately undermined legal certainty and the effectiveness of project governance. The article concludes that strengthening regulatory frameworks, enhancing contractual transparency, and restructuring public–private partnership mechanisms are essential to mitigate the risk of investment failure in future large-scale infrastructure projects and to ensure that development ambitions align with the principles of legal certainty and good governance.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

Ethos

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

Ethos and Pragmatic Law Review (EPLR) (E-ISSN : 3110-5831) is a scholarly journal that publishes research articles, conceptual studies, and critical analyses in the field of law, with a primary focus on Administrative Law, state financial law and Tax Law. This journal serves as an academic platform ...