TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-run railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has disbursed Rp4.2 trillion for the light rail transit or LRT Jabodebek. The additional fund is aimed at accelerating the project completion, especially the train depot construction in East Bekasi, West Java.

State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Deputy Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo said the fund was part of the KAI’s investment. “Because it has not been disbursed,” she said at Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Building, Jakarta, Monday, February 3.

KAI reportedly provided 60 percent of the financing of the urban train construction, which totals Rp22.8 trillion, while 30 percent of them from the contractor Adhi Karya, and the rest 10 percent from the government.

Adhi Karya’s managing director Budi Harto said that the train construction has reached 70 percent completion. As of date, the project was slightly hampered by the land acquisition for the depot. “We hope this will finish by the end of this month,” he said.

Budi targeted the project to reach 82 percent completion by this year’s end so that the train will be operational at the end of 2021. “The trial run will kick off in December 2021,” he added.

According to him, the most vital work of the LRT Jabodebek thus far is the construction of Cawang-Cibubur crossing. The trial of several trains had also been executed in the lanes. “We just have to finish the construction of the small stations. It has been completed mechanically,” Budi claimed.

EKO WAHYUDI