M

RT Jakarta has completed the construction of most stations for its first line that will connect Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta.

Ahead of its official opening in March, the 15.7 kilometer route had reached 95.3 percent completion, with almost all of the 13 stations at over 90 percent completion as of July 31, data from the MRT’s management
revealed.

Fatmawati Station and Cipete Raya Station are the only elevated stations with completion under 90 percent, at 86 and 76 percent respectively. The other five stations — Lebak Bulus, Haji Nawi, Blok A, Blok M and Sisingamangaraja — are more than 90 percent complete.

Underground stations are being completed faster, with three stations over 99 percent complete. Senayan, Dukuh Atas and Bundaran HI are recorded at 99 percent, 99.7 percent and 99.6 percent completion
respectively.

“Now we’re entering the testing and commission phase,” MRT Jakarta president director William Sabandar told journalists on Wednesday.

From this month until February next year, the company will continue to hold a series of test runs.

But the MRT is yet to carry passengers.

“The MRT is not yet able to carry passengers as the management is testing the signal, telecommunications and electricity supply,” said MRT Jakarta spokesperson Tubagus Hikmatullah.

The country’s first MRT is scheduled to start commercial operations in March next year. The 16 trains comprise six cars each, which can reportedly carry 130,000 passengers a day, will operate from 5 a.m. until 12 a.m. The trains are expected to run every five minutes during busy hours.

Trains on the elevated section have a maximum speed of 80 km per hour, while trains on the underground section have a maximum speed of 100 kph.

Furthermore, MRT Jakarta has launched mobile app MRT-J, accessible on both Android and iOS, featuring information on how to take the MRT, find MRT stations, distances and travel time between MRT stations, as well as passenger ethics.

The app will be developed to allow for the purchase or topping up of fare credit. The MRT is designing an app-based ticket, so tickets can be issued without the need for a card.

“The ticketing system is being developed by the team,” William said. “We want the ticketing system to be app-based.”

“Last year, I talked to the MRT’s management, asking them to make their operational system app-based, especially for the public,” Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said. “Conventional ticketing systems are more expensive, as each ticket costs money. The app could reduce the costs for the management and public.”

As soon as the first phase is completed, the second phase of the MRT is scheduled to begin, connecting Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to Kampung Bandan in North Jakarta.

Separately, the light rapid transit (LRT) line, which failed to start operating for the Asian Games, held another test run that was observed by Jakarta administration officials and employees of city-owned Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro), the project developer.

The train carried 135 passengers passing five stations, with a speed ranging from 20 to 40 kph.

“There will be another test run,” said Jakpro’s LRT Jakarta project director Allan Tandiono. (stu)