JAKARTA, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday instructed the Transportation Ministry and state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia to begin developing railway networks across Sumatra and Kalimantan simultaneously.

Speaking at the inauguration of the first phase of the renovated Semarang Tawang railway station in Central Java province, Prabowo said the planned Trans-Sumatra Railway would connect Bakauheni in Lampung province at the southern tip of Sumatra with Aceh province in the north.

"After the Trans-Sumatra, there will be the Trans-Kalimantan. If possible, let us start them at the same time. Indonesia is a great, strong and prosperous country. Let us prove it," Prabowo said.

He stressed that the two projects should be implemented in parallel.

Sumatra currently has several operational but disconnected railway networks serving different parts of the island, while Kalimantan has no operational public railway network.

The planned railways are expected to improve interregional connectivity and support economic development across the two islands.