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MRT Jakarta delays phase 2 construction amid COVID-19 outbreak
MRT Jakarta, the operator of the country’s first subway service, plans to commence construction of a 2.8 km underground tunnel from Bundaran HI to the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta in June, known as stage CP201. The plan was pushed back from March and was expected to be completed by December 2024.
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MRT trains parked at the MRT Jakrta Depot in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, on April 20. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he COVID-19 outbreak has forced city-owned transportation company PT MRT Jakarta to postpone construction of phase 2 of the Jakarta MRT.
MRT Jakarta, the operator of the country’s first subway service, plans to commence construction of a 2.8 km underground tunnel from Bundaran HI to the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta in June, known as stage CP201. The plan was pushed back from March and was expected to be completed by December 2024.
Phase 2 of the MRT’s development will see the construction of seven underground stations, extending 6.3 kilometer from Bundaran HI to Kota in West Jakarta.
“Due to the pandemic, we decided to postpone the commencement of work until June because it is not possible for the contractor to work in the current circumstances. A lot of experts will also come from Japan,” the firm's president director William Sabandar told journalists in a virtual meeting on Wednesday.
He also said the decision was made to avoid cost overruns.
“As there will be a three-month delay, the first operational stage of MRT Jakarta phase 2 [serving Bundaran HI to Monas] is slated to begin in April 2025 […] while the whole project until Kota station will be completed in March 2026,” he added.
The first and second operational stages of phase 2 were initially scheduled to begin at the end of 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Stage CP201 will proceed alongside construction of other phase 2 stages, namely Harmoni-Mangga Besar (CP202) and Glodok-Kota (CP203), as well as the construction of railway systems and track work (CP205) and procurement of rolling stock (CP206).
The firm has completed stage CP200, which was the construction of a receiving substation (RSS) at Monas.
Tenders for the aforementioned stages will also continue until June, William said.
Read also: From MRT to Transjakarta, here's how services have adjusted to citywide transport restrictions
A popular mode of transportation since its launch last year, the MRT has seen a dramatic drop in ridership since the Jakarta administration imposed social restrictions, including limiting public transportation services, on March 16.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the MRT saw an average of 100,000 passengers daily. This number has declined sharply, with only 4,134 passengers recorded on Tuesday, a 95 percent slump compared to March 6.
This will result in the company falling short of its farebox and non-farebox targets this year, set at approximately Rp 290 billion and Rp 425 billion, respectively, William said.
The company has developed strategies for moderate and worst-case scenarios.
It has also reduced its budget for training and business trips, and postponed procurement of train simulators worth Rp 100 billion for training purposes, Wiliam said, stressing that the firm would not layoff its 699 employees.
