JICA reiterates commitment to Jakarta's MRT project

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reiterated on Wednesday its commitment to funding the mass rapid transit (MRT) construction project in Jakarta, which is planned to commence in March next year.

“JICA has agreed to commit to funding the project. The next fund disbursement, however, will depend on the progress report of the ongoing project,” JICA senior advisor Yuho Hayakawa said Wednesday in Tokyo, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Hayakawa made the statement during the visit of PT Mass Rapid Transit Jakarta president director Tribuedi Raharjo and Indonesian Transportation Society chairman Danang Parikesit to the Japanese capital.

Former Indonesian transportation minister Freddy Numberi earlier questioned JICA's commitment to the project, saying it continued to delay executing the commitment despite its signing of a related agreement in March 2009.

The MRT construction project is estimated to cost Rp 30 trillion (US$3.39 billion) in total, with JICA having reportedly agreed to disburse Rp 19 trillion.