"The people have been given numerous choices. They have been presented with plenty of options," the president remarked at Padalarang KCJB Station, West Bandung District, West Java Province, on Monday.
He noted that the government has been making all-out efforts to provide the community with varied types of mass transportation through different procurement schemes.
The head of state then cited as an example the government's success in developing and operating Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains by collaborating with Japan on the funding and construction processes.
President Jokowi further explained that the government had been cooperating with state-owned rolling stock company PT INKA and state-owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya to develop the Light Rail Transit.
As for developing the KCJB, the government had been collaborating with PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), as the operator of the trains, he added.
Furthermore, Jokowi reiterated that the government had been striving to augment inter-regional connectivity in Indonesia by constructing national roads and toll roads.
"People can choose whether they will travel through national roads or toll roads," he pointed out.
President Jokowi then underscored the importance of ensuring that all means of mass transport only offer the finest services to the people.
He further noted that the government had been facilitating the public to use mass transport by subsidizing ticket prices.
To this end, Jokowi pointed out that the Jakarta provincial government is subsidizing MRT tickets by allocating a budget of Rp800 billion (US$51.6 million) per year.
The president also expressed hope that the increasingly expanded routes of mass transport would attract more people to switch to utilizing existing means of public transport.
"The government is responsible for serving the people, including by providing them with means of mass transport, in the hopes of attracting them to switch from using private vehicles to public transportation," he concluded.
President Jokowi made the statements after personally inaugurating the high-speed trains, called "Whoosh," at Halim KCJB Station, Jakarta, on the same day.
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Translator: Andi F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Sri Haryati
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