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Financing problems hamper MRT extension plan to South Tangerang
Traffic in its satellite cities within Greater Jakarta area has become increasingly worse over the past years, including South Tangerang, which took roughly an hour drive from the capital’s city.
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Japan's Emperor Naruhito (left) waves to journalists from inside a train at Lebak Bulus MRT station in South Jakarta on June 18, 2023. The emperor was on a week-long visit to Indonesia, his first since his coronation in 2019. (Courtesy/of PT MRT Jakarta)
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uestions over financing have slowed progress on the planned extension of the MRT Jakarta to South Tangerang, Banten, the city-owned company operating the service said, implying that the local administration was lacking the financial strength of Jakarta.
MRT Jakarta president director Tuhiyat said the plan had first been explored years ago and the Jakarta-owned company supported it.
“Talks have been in progress for quite some time and these haven’t actually stopped. [The delay] is because we’re currently exploring financing [schemes],” Tuhiyat was quoted in Bisnis on Thursday.
Traffic in the satellite cities within the Greater Jakarta area has been rapidly increasing over the years, including in South Tangerang, which takes roughly a one-hour drive from the capital’s city center. This is primarily due to a combination of more vehicles, ongoing road construction projects, poor traffic management and road users’ lawlessness.
However, unlike Jakarta, satellite cities have been lagging behind in developing their public transportation.
Read also: Satellite cities struggle with worsening congestion
Tuhiyat said MRT Jakarta had been in talks about the planned extension, involving the Transportation Ministry’s Greater Jakarta Transportation Management Agency (BPTJ) as well as former South Tangerang mayor Airin Rachmi Diany, who was in office from 2011 to 2021.
