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Government to extend Greater Jakarta LRT to Bogor, Karawang
The government has not decided whether the extension would use elevated rails, that are implemented on the existing lines, or on-the-ground rails (at grade).
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he government will extend the Greater Jakarta light rapid transit (LRT) network to include Bogor city and Karawang regency, both located in West Java, according to Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.
Extending to Bogor and Karawang will bring the rail line farther south and east away from Jakarta, respectively. Currently, the project only reaches Depok city to Bekasi regency.
"We are in the progress of conducting a [feasibility] study regarding this. [If finished] the number of passengers that could be carried is more massive and will reduce traffic and pollution in Jakarta," Budi told reporters on Wednesday, as quoted from Kumparan.
He added that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had instructed his aides to expand the rail line.
The announcement came just days before the government begins a free trial for the public starting July 12 until Aug. 17, which marks the country’s 78th independence celebration.
Aug. 17 is a day before President Jokowi is scheduled to inaugurate the new railway, which also happens to be the same day the government launches its free trial for the flagship Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway.
Construction of the LRT commenced in 2015 and the line was initially set to begin operations by the 2018 Asian Games, but the project faced many delays due to funding and land acquisition constraints.
In 2021, the project was reported to suffer over Rp 2.7 trillion (US$180 million) in cost overrun, according to the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry.
The government later covered the overbudget through a state capital injection (PMN) to state-owned railway company PT KAI.
The project was initially led by state-owned construction company PT Adhi Karya, but the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs decided to hand over the project to PT KAI.
Budi went on to say that the government had not decided whether the extension would use elevated rails, which were implemented on the existing lines, or on-the-ground rails (at grade), but he said he was more inclined toward the latter.
"I have told the contractors to use at grade, if possible, as elevated rails would double the cost," the minister stated.
The minister explained that the LRT could carry up to 500,000 passengers per day. Combined with the existing commuter lines on a similar route, both transportation methods could transport around 1.7 million people every day.
On top of that, Jakarta also already has an MRT that connects Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) with Lebak Bulus within its North-South Line. An extension from Bundaran HI to Kota and Ancol is still under construction.
In August last year, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the cost of the extension has increased by 15.5 percent to Rp 26 trillion.
