TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT MRT Jakarta, the operating company of the capital city's Mass Rapid Transit, has again closed two stations during the enforcement of the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) starting Thursday, April 23. The two stations are Istora Mandiri and Setiabudi Astra, said the firm's Operations and Maintenance Director Muhammad Effendi.

“Ratangga (MRT’s local name) will not stop at the two stations,” said Effendi in a written statement on Wednesday, April 22.

Effendi explained the closure was part of the company’s support to the implementation of PSBB. Earlier, the company had shut down three stations, namely ASEAN, Blok A, and Haji Nawi.

“So starting Thursday, Ratangga will only serve passengers in stations of Lebak Bulus Grab, Fatmawati, Cipete Raya, Blok M BCA, Senayan, Bendungan Hilir, Dukuh Atas BNI, and HI Roundabout,” he added.

In addition, PT MRT Jakarta is committed to complying with the PSBB policy for public transportation, such as by limiting the operating hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., limiting its capacity to 60 people in each car, requiring passengers to wear face masks, and maintaining the physical distancing order.

Jakarta PSBB has been effective since April 10. This is imposed in an effort to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. To date, the number of patients tested positive for the pneumonia-like disease in Indonesia continues to rise. Jakarta alone records 3,399 cases and 308 fatalities.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA