During the inauguration of Tanah Abang Baru Station in Jakarta on Tuesday, Prabowo said he had instructed PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) President Director Bobby Rasyidin to add more train carriages, including for commuter services in Greater Jakarta.
"Trains and all mass transportation systems are a very strategic and vital part of modern society. The Indonesian railways carry 486 million passengers annually. Therefore, this administration will focus on this sector," he said.
In recent days, the president held a limited meeting with related ministers to discuss strategies for improving mass transportation services, particularly trains.
"For Greater Jakarta, KAI said we need to build additional carriages and new train sets. Each train set costs US$9 million, and KAI proposed a total of Rp4.8 trillion. I allocated Rp5 trillion (US$299 million) for this," he noted.
Prabowo instructed KAI to move swiftly, targeting the completion of 30 additional train sets within one year, saying that while six months would be ideal, one year must be achieved so the public can see progress.
He shared his impressions of the Commuter Line service from Manggarai Station to Tanah Abang Baru Station before the inauguration.
"I've been abroad many times, but our trains are no less than trains anywhere else," he said.
At a meeting with Rasyidin on Monday, Prabowo also stressed safety, comfort, cleanliness, and security for the Jakarta–Bogor–Depok–Bekasi (Jabodebek) Integrated Rail Transit (LRT) system.
Ahead of the Christmas and New Year travel season, he reminded KAI to conduct thorough inspections of long-distance train routes, especially in disaster-prone areas.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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