PT MRT expects local firms to join project

JAKARTA: PT Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Jakarta announced an invitation for the city’s first MRT construction project, saying it expected to draw more local contractors to the project.

The city-owned company placed announcements of pre-qualification for the first phase of the MRT project in major newspapers Friday.

“We are going to divide the first phase into six packages. I hope most of the tender winners will be local contractors,” Rachmadi, PT MRT’s director for engineering, said Friday.

The cost of the MRT will be covered mostly by a ¥120 billion (US$1.4 billion) soft loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The total cost of the project is estimated at ¥144 billion.

Rachmadi said there would be a main Japanese contractor in the project, but the company would prioritize local contractors.

The first phase of the project involves the construction of an MRT central station and depot and a line running from Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta. The 15.5-kilometer-long route will run for 10.5 kilometers above ground and 5 kilometers underground. — JP