Lombok. The local government plans to build a cable car to Mount Rinjani from Karang Sidemen Village in North Batukliang District, but the project is on hold while investors wait for environmental approval, or locally known as Amdal.

Head of the Central Lombok Tourism Office Lalu Sungkul said investors remain committed, but the main obstacle is the pending environmental permit review

“Investors are still waiting for the environmental impact assessment to be validated. They haven’t left; their office is still active in Gunung Sari, West Lombok,” he said on Tuesday, as reported by Antara.

According to him, since the cable car plan was first announced in 2013 and the groundbreaking took place two years ago, the investor has shown strong commitment, even placing a forest area utilization guarantee deposit of Rp 5 billion ($81,500).

If the Amdal validation process is completed, the tourism office is optimistic the project will resume. While some technical modifications are expected, details have yet to be shared with the public.

“This cable car won’t harm the environment; it only requires a single 35-meter-high support pillar,” added Lalu Sungkul.

“We also hope this can become an alternative economic solution for local residents, some of whom have been involved in illegal activities like illegal logging,” he continued.

He pointed out countries like Switzerland, where cable cars are popular transportation methods for tourists and mountain communities alike.

The Rinjani cable car is part of a large-scale development project with an estimated investment of Rp 15 trillion, which includes accommodation and supporting infrastructure. The cable car’s construction alone is expected to cost around Rp 2.2 trillion, though the figure could rise to Rp 6 trillion due to the challenging terrain. The top station will be located about 2 kilometers below Rinjani’s Pelawangan Post.

From a planning perspective, however, the Head of the Central Lombok Regional Development, Research and Innovation Agency, Lalu Wiranata, previously stated that there is no official clarity regarding the continuation of the project. He even mentioned that the cable car development was considered temporarily canceled due to a lack of visible progress on the ground.

“We’ve reported this to the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government, and we are currently looking for alternative investors if necessary,” he said.

Previously, Lalu Wiranata emphasized that the cable car project could boost the development of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ) tourism area. The project is also expected to increase both domestic and international tourist visits to Central Lombok.

According to him, once operational, the cable car could generate significant local revenue. Additionally, it may positively impact economic growth, especially for local communities and small to medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). “There will definitely be economic impact. Hopefully, the project can be realized,” he said.

The total land area designated for the cable car project spans 500 hectares, with the cable line stretching 10 kilometers. It will also include supporting facilities.