"We hope that the Jakarta Administration can provide 40 percent of the funds."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The funding for the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) will be finalized by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Hatta Rajasa, on January 15.
"We hope that the Jakarta Administration can provide 40 percent of the funds. We hope that the remaining 60 percent of the funds will come from the central government," said the Governor of Jakarta, Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi.
Jokowi said after the funding of the MRT project is decided, a railway track from Lebak Bulus to Bundaran Hotel will be built.
"Once the budget is decided by the minister, I will look into the winner of the tender the next day," he said.
Then, a railway track from Bundaran HI to Kampung Bandan will be built. The construction of the Bundaran HI - Kota track has not been finalized.
According to Jokowi, the cost of construction will be approximately Rp15 trillion.
The MRT is supposed to operate on the Lebak Bulus - Kampung Bandan track from 2016. However, Jokowi wants to reduce the construction time so that the people of Jakarta can use the MRT from 2015.
The MRT is supposed to operate on the Bundaran HI - Kampung Bandan track from 2019. However, Jokowi has requested the construction company to increase the construction speed so that the track is operational in 2017.
"We want to reduce the construction time so that people can travel in MRTs as soon as possible. This will reduce traffic congestion on the roads. Once the Lebak Bulus - Bundarah HI track is ready, people can travel between the two locations within 30 minutes. Once the Bundaran HI - Kampung Bandan track is ready, people can travel between the two locations within 22.5 minutes," he said.
(U.S038/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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