Part 7/16:
A pivotal turning point was the unraveling of the financial integrity of the project. Originally presented as cost-neutral for Indonesia, the project’s expenses soared beyond the initial $6.07 billion estimate, climbing past $7.3 billion. The government had promised that no state funds would be used, but by 2021, that promise had been broken. The government injected funds to cover cost overruns, often at higher interest rates. As a result, Indonesia's railway operator, Kai, found itself paying more than $130 million annually in interest—more than the line’s own revenue.