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MRT Jakarta mulls extending rail line to South Tangerang
MRT Jakarta is revisiting the rail extension plan to South Tangerang after the notion was put to the back burner because of funding issues, as the extension requires financial commitment from local administrations.
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Motorists pass the construction site for the second phase of the MRT Jakarta project on Nov. 28, 2023. The project's second phase will see the railway service extended from Bundaran HI in Central Jakarta to Kota Tua in West Jakarta. (Antara/Putu Indah Savitri)
M
ass Rapid Transit (MRT) Jakarta has revived plans to extend the MRT rail line to South Tangerang, Banten, from the Lebak Bulus station in South Jakarta, revisiting a plan that was previously put on hold because of funding constraints.
MRT Jakarta president director Tuhiyat said that the mass transport system’s operator had reopened talks about the potential expansion, although he underscored that in order for the plan to come to fruition, the project would require financial support from both the South Tangerang city and the Banten provincial administrations.
In 2020, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi estimated the cost of the MRT extension to South Tangerang at Rp 20 trillion (US$1.2 billion), adding that the central government's budget alone could not cover this expense.
"An MRT line costs about Rp 800 billion to Rp 1 trillion per kilometer. For the 20 km to Tangerang, we’re looking at Rp 20 trillion," Budi said on Feb. 4, 2020, as quoted by CNBC.
Tuhiyat has expressed a determination to push forward with the MRT development plan to South Tangerang, citing its importance for regional connectivity.
However, the actual commencement of the plan is expected to start in 2025 at the earliest. The current focus remains on completing the MRT Jakarta Phase 2A route from Bundaran HI to Kota Tua, projected for completion by 2027.
"We will start to push again [talks on MRT expansion]. Hopefully soon, maybe early next year," Tuhiyat said on Wednesday, as quoted by Bisnis.
