Greater Jakarta Transportation Body (BPTJ) head Bambang Prihartono said the space in Dukuh Atas had been measured and that the plan was feasible. “Each of them can operate on their own and both will enter Dukuh Atas,” he said on Monday, adding that the use of separate tracks would allow each project to achieve three-minute headway.

Construction of both projects are ongoing. The Greater Jakarta LRT — a central government project — is set to run in 2019, linking the capital with three regions in West Java namely Bogor, Depok, and Bekasi. The project is claimed to have reached 50 percent completion.

Meanwhile, the Jakarta LRT — a Jakarta administration project — will link districts in the capital and is set to partially operate in 2018 before the Asian Games kicks off, with the first active route connecting Pulo Mas to Rawamangun Velodrome, both in East Jakarta. The project is 20 percent complete.

The Greater Jakarta LRT, also dubbed the Jabodebek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi) LRT, is estimated to cost Rp 27 trillion (US$2 billion), with the government providing a capital injection (PMN) of Rp 9 trillion to two state firms, train operator PT KAI and contractor PT Adhi Karya.

The remaining Rp 18 trillion will come from loans. The government expects to see the loans disbursed in November. Previously, only state banks, such as Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Bank Mandiri and Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) agreed to join the project.

Coordinating Maritime Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said private banks had agreed to partake in providing loans to the Greater Jakarta LRT. They include the biggest private bank by assets Bank Central Asia (BCA) and the Malaysian-controlled Bank CIMB Niaga.

“With private banks stepping in, loan proportion from state banks will decline but the number is not final yet. This is good indication of a positive lending structure, proven by the private banks’ willingness to join,” Luhut said.

The first phase covers Cibubur-Cawang, Bekasi Timur-Cawang and Cawang-Dukuh Atas. The train will run at 60 to 80 kilometers per hour, allowing people to travel from Cibubur to Cawang (14.3 km) in just 12 to 14 minutes.

The Jakarta LRT investment, meanwhile, is estimated to reach Rp 20 trillion, handled by the city owned PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro), with state-owned infrastructure company PT Wijaya Karya as the main contractor.

The project, once completed, will be a 24-km loop line connecting Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta and Dukuh Atas. The first phase of the project will span 6-km from BritAma Arena in Kelapa Gading to the Pulo Mas horse racing track and Rawamangun Velodrome.

Popular

The fragile promise of pluralism, religious freedom in Southeast Asia

Furniture exporters decry new quarantine rule

BRICS shows internal rifts as ministers fall short of joint statement