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Trans Metro Dewata Ceases Operations in Bali

• 01 Januari 2025
• Insight
• Denpasar

DENPASAR, NETIZENBALI.COM - As of January 1, 2025, the Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) bus service has officially ceased operations. This decision, announced via the official Instagram account of Trans Metro Dewata, marks the end of a significant chapter in Bali’s public transportation history.

The TMD service, which began in September 2020, has been a vital mode of transport for residents in Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan (Sarbagita). Over the years, it has facilitated the mobility of millions, providing an eco-friendly alternative to private vehicles and helping to reduce traffic congestion on the island.
The cessation of the service is primarily due to the discontinuation of subsidies from the Ministry of Transportation, which had been funding the operation. 

According to I Gusti Wayan Samsi Gunarta, Head of the Bali Provincial Transportation Agency, the lack of financial support from the national budget for 2025 has made it unsustainable to continue the service.

The announcement has sparked a wave of reactions from the public, many of whom relied on the TMD buses for their daily commutes. A petition on Change.org, urging the continuation of the service, has garnered over 6,000 signatures as of the first day of the new year.

Despite the shutdown, local authorities are exploring alternative solutions to maintain public transportation services. Negotiations are ongoing with the Ministry of Transportation to secure funding, and there are plans to potentially transfer the operation to the Bali Provincial Government.

The end of the Trans Metro Dewata service is a significant blow to Bali’s public transportation network, but efforts are being made to ensure that the island’s residents continue to have access to reliable and sustainable transport options. (NB)