TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Government drives acceleration of Jakarta MRT East-West corridor development
Change Size
I
n a bid to create an integrated and efficient transportation system in the Jakarta Special Region (DKI Jakarta) and its surrounding areas, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs held a coordination meeting for the preparation of the National Strategic Project construction implementation for Phase 1, Stage 1 of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) East-West corridor at the Coordinating Ministry’s office in Jakarta on Dec. 16.
The project is a step forward in developing mass transportation in DKI Jakarta and its surrounding areas, which is expected to reduce the traffic congestion and leverage inter-area connectivity in Jakarta and its surrounding areas. The project will be made possible through support from an international partner, namely the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has demonstrated its commitment to propping up the development of infrastructure in Indonesia.
The MRT East-West corridor will be constructed in two phases, with Phase 1, Stage 1 being a 39.3 kilometer line connecting Kembangan and Medan Satria. Phase 2, Stage 2 will span 50.4 km, starting from Balaraja-Kembangan up to Medan Satria-Cikarang.
“Infrastructure is the issue, and in the context of the National Strategic Project, this can be inter-area or regional. What is important is the investor is readily available, the project operator is also available and how it will operate is also clear. The ownership of the MRT operation is also clear. PT MRT is also clear,” explained Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto when leading the coordination meeting.
At the occasion, Coordinating Minister Airlangga also underlined that Phase 1, Stage 1 of the Jakarta MRT West-East corridor project would not only reduce traffic congestion, but also would serve as a symbol of progress and innovation regarding the development of infrastructure in Indonesia.
Further, the signing of the minutes of discussion of Phase 1, Stage 1 between JICA, the Transportation Ministry, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), the DKI Jakarta administration and MRT Jakarta in November 2023, marked a concrete step toward implementing the project.
With strong funding support amounting to US$3 billion from JICA, the project is expected to contribute significantly to the improvement of life quality and mobility for residents of Jakarta and those living in the surrounding areas.
This commitment to the cooperation was also demonstrated when President Joko Widodo along with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumino Kishida signed a pledge on the construction of the Jakarta MRT West-East MRT corridor on Dec. 16, 2023.
To follow up the coordination meeting, Coordinating Minister Airlangga will issue a Coordinating Minister regulation related to the operation of the MRT East-West corridor as a basis for the loan negotiation and loan signing in March.
Airlangga is committed to continuing to safeguard and ensure that the construction of the project, with the support of strong synergy and the central government, regional government and international partners, will run smoothly.
Airlangga also underscored the importance of the project as part of the efforts to improve and enhance the mass transportation system in the capital.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, who attended the meeting, shared Airlangga’s view, expressing his support for the overall implementation of the MRT East-West corridor.
It has been agreed that by institution, the project will involve the Transportation Ministry as an executing agency, the DKI Jakarta administration as implementing agency and PT MRT Jakarta as sub-implementing agency. In terms of financing, it has been agreed that the loan proportion to be used will be 49 percent grant and 51 percent loans.
The DKI Jakarta administration has demonstrated its commitment to land procurement in the DKI Jakarta area. Apart from that, the central government and other regional governments involved have also expressed their commitment to ensure that the land procurement, implementation and operation of the MRT East-West corridor can be carried out well.
In his closing remarks, Coordination Minister Airlangga pointed out that efforts will be made to accelerate the development of the East-West MRT corridor, part of the National Strategic Project in response to the President’s direction that the entire National Strategic Project can be completed or at least reach financial closure and groundbreaking in the first half of 2024.
The direction serves as a guideline for all the stakeholders involved and so that the targeted groundbreaking for the MRT East-West corridor will be able to conducted in August 2024.
