JAKARTA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia plans a massive expansion of its railway network, aiming to add approximately 14,000 km of tracks across the archipelago to bolster connectivity and drive regional development, a senior official said Wednesday.

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said that the plan, which includes both new construction and the reactivation of idle routes, will prioritize areas outside Java, specifically Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.

Yudhoyono emphasized that expanding rail connectivity beyond the country's most populous island is critical to slashing logistics costs and narrowing regional economic disparities.

Given the project's vast scale, the official noted that it will require a substantial financial commitment that extends beyond the state budget.

"The figures are substantial, but this is a long-term investment in Indonesia's future. We cannot rely solely on the state budget," Yudhoyono said in a statement.

To bridge the funding gap, the government is promoting alternative financing schemes, including private sector partnerships, Yudhoyono noted.