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Jokowi to inaugurate MRT Jakarta on Sunday
The capital city is gearing up for the launch of the country's first MRT system, which is to hold a trial run from March 12 to 24 before it opens on April 1.
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Members of the public ride the MRT Jakarta on March 12, 2019, the first day of the trial run for the new mass transit system. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is scheduled to inaugurate the country's first MRT on Sunday, an official from city-owned transportation company PT MRT Jakarta has said.
In a meeting with City Council Commission C overseeing financial affairs on Monday, MRT Jakarta finance director Tuhiyat said the inauguration would be held at the final station of the inaugural line at Central Jakarta's Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
"[Provided that] there are no obstacles, on Sunday, March 24, [MRT Jakarta] will be inaugurated by Jokowi," said Tuhiyat, and that the new rail service will commence commercial operations on April 1.
Phase 1 of the MRT Jakarta project, which is scheduled for completion this month, covers the construction of 13 stations along a 15.7-kilometer route from Lebak Bulus terminal in South Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
Tuhiyat added that the president and Cabinet ministers would join the MRT trial run on Tuesday, ahead of Sunday's inauguration.
Members of the public may ride the MRT Jakarta for free during the trial run from March 12 to 24. Those interested must first register for a seat through ayocobamrtj.com.
Read also: MRT increases free trial run quota to 50,000 passengers per day
The new public transportation system projects a daily passenger capacity of 65,000 for this year, which is expected to expand to 130,000 passengers by 2022.
The Jakarta administration has proposed a variable fare of an average Rp 10,000 (US 68 cents) per 10 kilometers for the MRT Jakarta. The proposed fare would require the administration to allocate a subsidy of Rp 572 billion in the city budget to operate the transit system this year.
The fare rate and subsidy needs the approval of City Council, which is discussing the issue with the Jakarta administration.
