"Praise be to God, this (LRT) is a major achievement that further modernizes the transportation sector," he remarked during the LRT inauguration broadcast from Cawang Station, Jakarta, on Monday.
Sumadi remarked that owing to the leadership and bold decisions of President Joko Widodo, Indonesia has been successful in modernizing its urban mass transportation in several regions, as is apparent from the development of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (KCJB) in addition to the LRT.
The minister then described LRT as an eco-friendly means of mass transportation that is integrated with the systems of other means of public transportation, such as commuter trains (KRL), Transjakarta buses, MRT, and JakLingko, thereby providing the public with convenient access to mass transportation.
"We hope that this concept (of integration) will be emulated in the future development efforts for Indonesia's transportation sector," he noted.
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LRT, covering Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, and Bekasi (Jabodebek) regions, is scheduled to become operational on Monday at 18 stations: Dukuh Atas, Setiabudi, Rasuna Said, Kuningan, Pancoran, Cikoko, Ciliwung, Cawang, TMII, Kampung Rambutan, Ciracas, Harjamukti, Halim, Jatibening Baru, Cikunir I, Cikunir II, Bekasi Barat, and Jatimulya.
In the first month of operation, the fare for all services of the automatically operated trains manufactured by state-owned enterprise PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA) will be fixed at Rp5 thousand (US$0.32).
When the period of the fixed fare rate expires in September 2023, the government will offer a maximum tariff of Rp20 thousand (US$1.3) for the farthest travel distance and varied rates below Rp20 thousand for shorter travel distances.
The tariffs are governed by Transportation Minister's Regulation No. KM 67 of 2023 regarding tariffs for an integrated LRT system for Jabodebek regions as a fulfillment of public service obligations.
The regulation stipulates that the base fare for the LRT will be set at Rp5 thousand for the first kilometer and Rp700 (US$0.04) for additional kilometers thereafter.
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Translator: Yashinta Difa, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
