T

he Jakarta administration has completed the tender for rolling stock of the MRT system, won by the Japan-based Sumitomo Corp.

Sumitomo is set to procure 16 sets of six-coach electric trains, with a value of up to ¥10.8 billion (US$90.4 million). Each set will have a 1,950-person capacity.

Sumitomo representative director Naoki Hidaka and project operator PT MRT Jakarta president director Dono Boestami signed the contract at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to seal the deal. According to the contract, Sumitomo must complete its job within 185 weeks of the contract signing.

Dono said Sumitomo was set to procure the newest train model, which uses an automatic train operation (ATO) system.

'€œThis is the latest train technology. As we all know, Japan is one of the most developed countries in terms of technology,'€ Dono said before the contract signing.

Dono went on to say that MRT Jakarta was assisted by consultant Nippon Koei during the tender. Nippon Koei is the lead consultant in Jakarta Metro Tender Assistance paid for by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through an official development assistance (ODA) loan. He added that the trains had fulfilled the Standard Urban Railway System for Asia, or Strasya.

The train drivers, Dono said, would only need to press a start and stop button to operate the trains.

MRT Jakarta has conducted several tenders for the project; an elevated railway and train depot in Lebak Bulus to Cipete in South Jakarta won by Tokyu and Wijaya Karya; elevated railway in Haji Nawi to Sisingamangaraja in South Jakarta won by Obayashi, Shimizu and Jaya Konstruksi; underground construction from Sisingamangaraja to Setiabudi in South Jakarta won by Shimizu, Obayashi, Wijaya Karya and Jaya Konstruksi Manggala Pratama; and underground construction from Dukuh Atas to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

Dono said the firm had conducted a final tender for railway systems and track work, in which five candidates participated. He said the contract would be signed in early April, with a working period of up to 185 weeks.

During the same occasion, Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama also urged his subordinates to quickly complete land acquisition so that the MRT project could finish as scheduled.

Previously, Bina Marga Agency head Yusmada Faizal said that the city had allocated Rp 500 billion ($38.5 million) for acquisition but had yet to acquire the 20,000 square-meter plots of land.

Ahok said the city and MRT Jakarta must not make any mistakes in the project. '€œWe cannot afford any mistakes in construction or procurement. Therefore, we must procure the best products and construct the best quality,'€ Ahok said.