A towering glass elevator set to give tourists easy access to a social media famous beach in Bali will be torn down mid-way though construction.
Bali's Governor Wayan Koster on Sunday announced the 182m Kelingking Glass Elevator Project will be demolished after major building violations were reported last month.
The structure has already caused irreversible damage to the famous cliffside at Kelingking Beach, one of Bali's pristine natural wonders, local outlet The Bali Sun reported.
Governor Koster has given the company behind the project, PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group, just six months to deconstruct the elevator.
Construction of the eyesore and an adjoining 64-metre bridge at Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida, an island south-east of Bali, began last year.
The US$1.4million project was designed to assist beachgoers in traversing the scenic cliffside, dubbed the 'T-Rex' for its unique shape, down to the beachfront.
Local official previously raised concerns with the project, following claims appropriate permits may not have been obtained before works began.
Governor Koster on Sunday said an investigation had revealed five violations related to spatial issues, permits, environmental law, licencing and culture-based tourism.
Construction of a giant glass elevator at Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida has been ordered to stop
Authorities on Sunday ordered the elevator be completely demolished within six months
Pictures of the project had triggered outrage from local beachgoers - blaming tourism for spoiling yet another beloved site.
'I can't (sic) no longer recommend a visit to Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida,' one Balinese wrote on social media.
'Unfortunately, the breathtaking, pristine views that made this location famous are being compromised by the construction of a large, intrusive glass viewing lift.'
'Do we want to turn this island into just another commercial hub for investors?' another woman wrote.
'I still remember when this place felt wild - untouched, almost sacred,' Dutch expat Twan van Halm wrote on Instagram.
'When the climb down made your heart race and every step reminded you that beauty takes effort. Now it's all signs, selfies, shortcuts.'
Others questioned the need for the project to begin with, claiming the true dangers came from swimming off the beach rather than scaling its cliffs.
'Many tourists experience accidents because they go down,' local woman Made Sediana told the Bali Sun newspaper.
Locals earlier voiced concern the iconic beach could be permanently ruined by the massive construction project
The project was found to be violating several building laws
Only last month, a 32-year-old French tourist drowned after being swept away by strong currents off Kelingking Beach.
The project previously drew accusations the government is prioritising tourist infrastructure over the desires of locals.
Questions of overtourism surfaced following devastating floods in September, after planning experts suggested fast-tracked construction, including in tourist hotspots, had stripped the land of its natural flood resistance.
'There is so much tourist accommodation being built, and according to our records, much of it is built by violating coastal zones, river zones and often these developments are located in disaster-prone areas,' Walhi Bali executive director Krisna Dinata told the ABC.
He added: 'Even in the eyes of the world, Bali is seen as a case of overtourism.'
Bali placed as the number one destination not to visit in 2025 on Fodors Magazine's 'no list', with overtourism and 'unchecked development' as its key reasons.
'Once-pristine beaches like Kuta and Seminyak are now buried under piles of trash, with local waste management systems struggling to keep up,' it said.
Despite the backlash, Bali is expected to receive 6.5million foreign tourists this year, setting a new annual record and well exceeding its local population of 4.4million.