Until July 2021, NFB's revenue has reached Rp258 billion, or 58 percent of the Rp450 billion, which was 2021's target. 
Jakarta (ANTARA) - City-owned transportation company MRT Jakarta Ltd (Perseroda) has maximized revenue from advertising or outside Revenue Per User (RPU) or non-farebox (NFB) as ridership continues to decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the extended public activity restrictions (PPKM), this Jakarta provincial government-owned company is structuring a new strategy to strengthen revenues outside fare boxes, which was through non-farebox adjustments, President Director of MRT Jakarta Ltd William Sabandar said.

"To cover the decline in ridership revenue, we are maximizing the acceptance of non-fare boxes. Also, we have minimized and optimized our budget and expenses," Sabandar said during a virtual MRT Jakarta webinar in Jakarta on Friday.

NFB revenue is earned through advertising from inside and outside stations, as well as cooperation with Telco services, station-naming rights, and ticket payment cooperation.

Sabandar noted that advertising and station-naming rights are the largest components of the NFB's revenue structure, as they represent 80 percent of non-fare box revenues.

He detailed that NFB's revenue in 2019, which was the first year of MRT's operation, reached Rp207.6 billion.

Revenues outside the ridership also increased to Rp382.67 billion in 2020, he pointed out.

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of daily passengers was recorded at only 27,000 or significantly declined from the target of 100,000 passengers, Sabandar said.

"So, last year what saved the MRT business was our revenue in NFB. Last year our ridership had significantly decreased, this year would definitely be even worse," Sabandar warned.

This year, MRT targeted to carry 65,000 passengers by the end of 2021. However, because of the surge in COVID-19 cases and mobility restrictions, passenger numbers were projected to fall, he said.

In July 2021, the number of MRT daily passengers dropped by 80 percent to 4,450 passengers per day from 22,686 passengers per day, he added.

Until July 2021, NFB's revenue has reached Rp258 billion, or 58 percent of the Rp450 billion, which was 2021's target.

Therefore, MRT has collaborated with a number of partners to keep NFB's revenues growing and the company in good shape until the end of 2021, Sabandar said.

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Translator: Mentari G, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021