"We have tested it. The train is smooth and comfortable, and the speed is also good. It can be said that it is silent and very comfortable," President Widodo stated at the Jakarta TMII LRT Station, Wednesday.
President Widodo conducted a check of the LRT along with Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and other relevant officials.
"This morning, I visited to see the progress in the construction of the Jabodebek LRT, approximately having reached 84.7-percent completion," the president noted.
Widodo pointed out that the Jabodebek LRTs were all made by SOEs.
"One hundred percent (of the trains) are made by PT INKA, which will later be operated by PT KAI. Hence, everything is done in Indonesia, including the construction by PT Adhi Karya," the president remarked.
The head of state also assessed that SOEs required the experience in conducting the development in order to expand their businesses.
"This experience of building trains by PT INKA will be the foundation if we build the LRT and construct trains for other countries. Now, we have exported trains to Bangladesh and the Philippines, and we hope the LRT would also be like that," the president noted.
Construction of the Jabodebek LRT Phase 1 comprises three tracks. First, the Cawang-Cibubur route, spanning 14.8 kilometers long, for which the construction work has currently reached 93.8-percent completion.
Second, the Cawang-Dukuh Atas route, extending 11 kilometers long, for which the work is 84.3 percent complete, and the third route, spanning 18.4 kilometers on the Cawang-East Bekasi route, which has currently reached 90.9-percent completion.
In addition to the three tracks, the Jabodebek LRT depot is being built, which is located in East Bekasi, with the construction work having reached 44.1-percent completion.
The Jabodebek LRT will have 18 stops at stations. Under normal conditions, one LRT series can carry 740 passengers. During peak hours, it can carry 1,308 passengers, with a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
Some of the advantages offered by LRT are the shorter travel time than that of private vehicles or buses. The LRT can take the route from East Bekasi to Dukuh Atas in 45 minutes, while only taking 39 minutes from Cibubur to Dukuh Atas. Related news: LRT Jakarta should continually innovate, governor
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Translator: Desca L, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
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