The controversial glass elevator project towering over Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, has been officially halted following widespread public criticism and a government inspection that uncovered multiple violations.
The Rp200 billion project, launched in July 2023, aimed to give tourists easier access to the beach, which has long been known for its steep and challenging staircase. However, a viral video showing the 182-meter steel frame of the planned glass elevator sparked outrage online, with many arguing it ruined the natural cliffs and pristine views that made Kelingking Beach world-famous.
Responding to the backlash, the Bali Regional House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing (TRAP) conducted an unannounced inspection at the site. Led by Committee Chair I Made Supartha, the team discovered that the project sits within a disaster mitigation zone, making it illegal under Indonesia’s spatial planning regulations.
Read also: Bali Online Tourist Drivers Now Limited to Local Residents Only
“From a legal perspective, it’s no longer allowed. So, even those who issue permits could face criminal penalties,” said Supartha, as quoted by Tribunnews (October 31, 2025).
The committee’s evaluation concluded that the construction violated Law Number 26 of 2007 on Spatial Planning. As a result, TRAP recommended the immediate suspension of all activities. Acting on this recommendation, the Bali Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) led by Chief I Dewa Nyoman Dharmadi swiftly sealed off the area with safety lines, including the zones surrounding the construction cranes.
Dharmadi confirmed that the project breached environmental protection and coastal boundary regulations. He further clarified that the issued permit only covered the utilization of the cliff area, not the development of large-scale infrastructure like a glass elevator.
For now, the fate of the ambitious project remains uncertain, but the decision to suspend it reflects Bali’s growing effort to protect its natural landscapes from overdevelopment and preserve the authenticity of its most beloved tourist sites.
