Started in September 2015, the first phase, connecting Dukuh Atas in downtown Central Jakarta with Cibubur in East Jakarta, is confirmed to be operational in 2019.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The first phase of Jakarta Light Rail Transit (LRT), a type of rapid transit that uses electric-powered trains, will certainly be ready for operation in the next two years.

Started in September 2015, the first phase, connecting Dukuh Atas in downtown Central Jakarta with Cibubur in East Jakarta, is confirmed to be operational in 2019.

The construction of the Jakarta Light Rail Transit was launched as a substitute for the Jakarta Monorail project
which was planned in early 2000s and started construction in 2004 but immediately stalled due to lack of funding.

Hence, the Jakarta Light Rail Transit is meant to ease the congestion of the capital citys gridlock traffic.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi remarked in a written statement received here on Monday that the first phase of the LRT project can be completed in 2018 in order to be in operation in March 2019.

To ease traffic congestion, the government has planned the construction of mass transport projects, including an 83.6 kilometer Light Rail Transit (LRT) for the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodebek) area.

The first phase of the LRT project is to cost some Rp11.9 trillion for the three tracks -- Cibubur-Cawang line covering 13.7 kilometers (kms), Cawang-Dukuh Atas, 10.5 kms and the Bekasi Timur-Cawang line covering 17.9 kms.

The second phase will travel through Cibubur-Bogor, Dukuh Atas-Palmerah Senayan and Palmerah-Grogol for 41.5 km, and will cost the same as the first phase.

The LRT is a rail-based means of transportation that is eco-friendly and built to operate above roads and highways.

President Jokow has said it will be integrated with all other public transport in Jakarta, including TransJakarta, airport railway and the Jakarta-Bandung speed train.

The transportation minister appreciated the construction of the LRT by using the latest technology, Precast.

Precast technology is a smart way to build any type of buildings, safely and affordably.

Originally developed in the Nordic countries, modular precast is one of the world's most common and resource-efficient ways to build.

This technology ensures faster construction times, higher profitability and better quality.

Precast also has lower lifetime costs than any other building solution.

"With Precast, Indonesia is more advanced because such a technology has just been used by several countries in Asia, such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan," Minister Sumadi remarked.

The Light Rail Transit is a rail-based means of transportation that is eco-friendly and built to operate above roads and highways.

It is integrated with all other means of public transport in Jakarta, including TransJakarta, airport railway and the Jakarta-Bandung speed train, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

Due to this, work to build the mass transport infrastructure should be completed on schedule, the president has said.

The President also expressed his optimism about the LRT project not being stalled like the monorail project, which had faced numerous impediments.

In comparison, the LRT project was said to be running relatively smoothly, the President stated after the groundbreaking ceremony of the LRT project in East Jakarta in 2015.

Since the beginning, it has not encountered any problems. It is different from the monorail project that was plagued by issues, which must be parsed. It is not easy to unravel these problems in a short period of time.

The President also explained that the rest of the monorail project, such as the pillars, which had been built, will be used for the LRT project.

Jokowi refused to comment on the problems faced during the implementation of the monorail project and decided to delegate affairs to Jakartas Governor.

Jakartas Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as Ahok, was also present at the ceremony and insisted that the problems related to the monorail project had been addressed.

Moreover, the President has set a deadline for Ahok to complete the LRT project in Jakarta by 2018 when the city will host the Asian Games, so that it can be integrated with the LRT in Jakartas satellite towns.

Nine state companies collaborate for the development of the LRT in the Greater Jakarta area.

The synergy between state companies is needed in land development, financing, construction, and operation, to create added value, both for the corporations and the people.

PT. Adhi Karya has allocated Rp 2.75 trillion (US$ 193 million) as initial capital for the project.

The other eight companies involved in the project are publicly listed PT Jasa Marga, Perum PPD, PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesi (RNI), Perum Bulog, PT Bank BNI, PT Bank Mandiri, PT Bank BRI, and PT Bank BTN.

PT Jakarta Propertindo, a company owned by the Jakarta city administration, is also involved in the construction of the Rp23.8 trillion mass transport project to ease the traffic congestion in Jakarta.

As a solution to this problem, the authorities have provided a number of public transportation means, such as the Trans-Jakarta bus service and commuter train KRL Jabodetabek to serve the Greater Jakarta or Jabodetabek.

And now, the presence of the Jakarta LRT is expected to resolve the grave traffic congestion that has inflicted material loss of some Rp65 trillion annually.(*)

Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017