Jokowi said he would ask the government to agree to take over 70 percent of the debt repayment burden with the city administration to take the remaining 30 percent.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakarta`s Governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said he hoped to reach an agreement with the central government on sharing the repayment of loan used to built Jakarta`s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project.
Jokowi said he wanted the central government to take a bigger share of the debt repayment burden.
It was set earlier that the central government would repay 42 percent of the loan with the city administration to have a majority share of 58 percent of the debt repayment burden.
Jokowi said he would ask the government to agree to take over 70 percent of the debt repayment burden with the city administration to take the remaining 30 percent.
With debt repayment burden reduced to 30 percent, the city administration hopes to be able to subsidize the MRT ticket price, he said.
He said Chief Economics Minister Hatta Rajasa has invited the city administration, the financed ministry, transport ministry and the National Development Planning Board to discuss the MRT debt.
MRT would be built to help cope with the notorious traffic jams in the city.
The Japanese government has agreed to finance the mega project of underground and elevated rail tracks extending between the southern and northern parts of the city.
Jokowi said the project would be implemented immediately after a final decision has been made on the debts. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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