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Authorities have officially suspended construction of the 182-metre-tall glass elevator being built on the famous cliffside of Nusa Penida's Kelingking Beach in Bali, Indonesia, following an outpouring of public outrage and environmental concerns
According to Indonesia's state news agency, Antara, officials from the Bali provincial government and municipal police ordered work on the project to stop after discovering multiple regulatory violations.
The elevator project, announced last year by Indonesia's Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno as a new tourism innovation, was intended to make access to the beach easier and safer.
But when photos and videos of the metal structure cutting through the island's iconic 'T-rex cliff' began circulating online, locals and environmentalists were furious
The Guardian reported that the project, developed by PT Bangun Nusa Properti with support from a Chinese investor, lacked essential permits for disaster mitigation and work safety. It even failed to follow the Bali-style design mandated by regional law. It also violated Indonesia's Spatial Planning Law (Law No. 26/2007).
"The Bali Municipal Police will ensure that no construction activities continue here," said I Made Supartha, who heads a special committee on spatial affairs and permits at the Bali legislature, as quoted by Antara.
Authorities have since sealed the site with police tape
Bali Municipal Police officer I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi told Antara that removing the tape or continuing construction would be considered a criminal offence.
PT Bangun Nusa Properti defended the project, saying it had received approval in 2023 and was backed by a 200 billion rupiah (around RM50 million) investment from a Chinese partner.
As reported by The Bali Sun, company director I Komang Suantara said the project aimed to boost regional revenue and create jobs, and that they would comply with the suspension while working to complete the necessary paperwork.
Still, many Bali residents and activists remain strongly opposed
According to The Independent, Bali senator Niluh Djelantik, who has long spoken out against overdevelopment on the island, said that the lift poses unnecessary risks.
"Long before this lift was built, we had already voiced our opposition. The risks are too great. Enjoy Bali's beauty wisely; don't create access that seems to be leading tourists to the gates of disaster," she said.
Perched on the southwest coast of Nusa Penida, Kelingking Beach is one of Indonesia's most photographed spots
With its limestone cliff shaped like a T-Rex head overlooking turquoise waters, it's been a hotspot for travellers.
While the elevator was designed to replace the treacherous, steep stairs down to the beach, critics say it would destroy the very landscape that makes the site world-famous.
Here's a video showing how the beach looks recently:
