Bali Airport Processing
Bali Airport Processing – On Wednesday, 05 March 2024, Indonesia’s Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, officially inaugurated 30 new autogate processing points in the international arrival terminal at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport.
Karim introduced 30 new autogates incorporating Face Recognition and Border Control Management (BCM) technology. These innovations result in a processing time of only 15-25 seconds per arriving passenger,
Foreign travelers using the new autogates must present an electronic passport and hold a visa such as an E-VOA (Visa on Arrival) or E-Visa. ASEAN member country nationals entitled to visa-free entry to Indonesia can use the autogate by registering beforehand online at the immigration e-via website,
Foreign travelers can also scan the immigration barcode and download an application. That will allow the use of the autogate.
Indonesian nationals holding either electronic or non-electronic passports can use the new autogates.
The face recognition technology used by the autogate system requires travelers to ensure the scanners can clearly read their entire faces. Hats, masks, and face veils must be removed to allow the autogate to operate correctly.
Passport covers and folders must be removed for the autogate passport scanner to operate. Once the passport scan is completed, travelers can submit their faces for scanning by face recognition technology.
The autogate face recognition technology connects to other systems, including immigration, the national police, and INTERPOL.
Silmy said the new technology will assist Indonesian immigration authorities in efficiently processing the 14,000 – 16,000 people arriving daily in Bali. During the trial introductory period, 01 February – 01 March 2024, some 112,939 have used the new autogates, comprised of 114,684 Indonesians and 98,255 foreign nationals.
Bali Rail System 2024
Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, has announced that the targeted groundbreaking for the commencement of construction of Bali’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) is set for September 2024.
As reported by Beritabali.com, while speaking at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jakarta on Thursday, 01 February 2024, Sumadi confirmed the timing of the groundbreaking ceremony in Bali for September 2024.
Budi Sumadi told listeners in Jakarta that the LRT Bali will connect Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport and Mengwi – a distance, depending on the final route, of some 30 kilometers. The first stage of rail construction will connect Bali’s Airport to Kuta.
The construction of the first phase of the LRT will be funded via loans from South Korean sources. The South Koreans are also financing initial feasibility studies.
The financing plans under review include a cooperative agreement between the South Korean Government and a South Korean Public Corporation (KPBU).
Budi Karya Sumadi had earlier commented that mass transportation is the solution to increasing traffic jams in Bali.
“In the long term, we will build LRT trains in Bali from the airport to several points where traffic has been heaviest, such as Sunset Road, Legian, and Canggu,” said Budi Karya in a written statement issued on Sunday, 29 December 2024.
Sumadi confirmed that the Governor of Bali and the Regent of Badung have guaranteed funds for capital expenditures related to the rail link.
The Bali LRT will be operated as a joint venture between the province of Bali, which will hold a 51% share, and the Central government, which will have a 49% share.
Russian Troublemaker arrested in Bali
The continuing Russia – Ukraine conflict has triggered an upsurge in visitors and short-term residents from those two warring nations seeking the relative safety and seclusion offered by life in Bali.
Reflecting this, Bali is home to shops, restaurants, and housing developments catering separately to Ukrainians and Russians.
As reported by Radarbali.com, Russian National Vladimir Kolesov (48) initially attacked people at the Capri Italian Restaurant in Kuta-Seminyak on Wednesday, 28 February 2024.
The same man returned and attacked the Restaurant again on Friday, 01 March 2024, after which police, assisted by local residents, arrested the man.
At the time of his arrest, Kolesov was reportedly carrying a range of sharp weapons, including an axe, knife, and a pair of scissors. A further search of the Russian’s motorcycle yielded more sharp weapons.
Press reports say the Russian man disrupted late-night operations at the Capri Italian Restaurant on Jalan Camplung Tanduk Seminyak in Kuta.
RadarBali.com states that Koselov was involved in an unspecified dispute with the Italian Restaurant’s owner that supposedly precipitated the foreigner running amok.
Witnesses said the Russian wielded an axe, inflicting damage across several areas of the Restaurant.
The incident was recorded on the Restaurant’s CCTV surveillance system.
The highly emotional man menaced and threatened the owner and employees of the Capri Italian Restaurant with an axe in one hand and knife in the other, also threatening to stab the bystanders; reports say the crazed Russian chased workers onto the adjoining roadway.
Police say the man damaged items at the Restaurant, including framed menu displays, furniture, a door lock at the entrance, a wooden stairway, and a room divider,
The owner of the Restaurant estimates the damage caused by the disruptive Russian exceeds ten million rupiahs.
Police from the Kuta Precinct took Vladimir Kolesov into custody without incident.
Police continues to investigate the crime.
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