Indonesia pushes Jakarta MRT expansion to boost transit use

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka made the remarks during an inspection of MRT extension works in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said President Prabowo Subianto has prioritized development of reliable and modern public transportation systems.

“If we have safe, comfortable, modern and integrated systems, more people will use public transportation,” Gibran said while touring the Harmoni-Sawah Besar underground tunnel project.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo and MRT Jakarta President Director Tuhiyat joined the visit.

Gibran also praised Jakarta’s policy of waiving public transport fares for 15 groups, including elderly residents and people with disabilities.

He said service quality improvements must accompany the subsidy policy.

“The most important thing is ensuring safety and comfort for children, women, pregnant mothers, the elderly and people with disabilities,” he said.

Beyond the MRT, Gibran welcomed ongoing expansion of Jakarta’s LRT and TransJakarta bus services into surrounding areas.

“TransJakarta is now serving agglomeration regions too,” he said.

Governor Pramono said construction progress on MRT Phase 2A, linking Bundaran HI and Kota Tua, had reached 59.7 percent.

He said trial operations are targeted for 2027.

The 22.2-kilometer north-south corridor is expected to be fully completed by 2029, he added.

Pramono also said the first segment of the east-west MRT corridor is projected to begin operations by 2030.

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Translator: Mentari D, Tegar Nurfitra