We will subsidize (the tickets) of airport trains, Transjakarta, KRL (commuter trains), LRT, MRT, and high-speed trainsJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) confirmed that the government will subsidize tickets for Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Bekasi (Jabodebek) light rail transit (LRT), Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), and other modes of transportation.
"We will subsidize (the tickets) of airport trains, Transjakarta, KRL (commuter trains), LRT, MRT, and high-speed trains," he stated at the Dukuh Atas LRT Station in Jakarta on Thursday.
On the occasion, the president had the opportunity to conduct a test ride on the Jabodebek Bekasi LRT train from Jati Mulya Station, Bekasi, West Java, to Dukuh Atas Station.
President Jokowi affirmed that the subsidies will be disbursed as a form of Public Service Obligation (PSO) implementation and are aimed at boosting the people's power to purchase tickets for transportation modes.
He also expressed hope that the convenience offered would encourage more people to start opting for means of mass transportation rather than private vehicles while noting that public reliance on such vehicles is responsible for the worsening condition of traffic congestion in big cities.
"The country (incurs) losses (of) nearly Rp100 trillion (US$6.5 billion) per year due to traffic congestion frequently occurring in Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) and Bandung," he pointed out.
Bearing that in mind, he pushed for immediate solutions to prevent such losses, adding that the plan to provide subsidies for mass transportation tickets is expected to help the country resolve the problem.
"Indeed, the government is obliged to provide subsidies as a form of public service," he remarked.
The head of state then revealed that the Jabodebek LRT will be inaugurated soon on August 26, 2023, while the government will conduct another trial ride on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway train later in September.
"The sooner we can operate (the trains), the better, considering that every day, we are experiencing congestion and air pollution," he emphasized.
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Translator: Indra Arief, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Sri Haryati
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