TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The construction of Phase 2A of the MRT railroad project starting from Thamrin to Monas has been eventually postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MRT Jakarta Managing Director, William Sabandar, said the project is delayed for three months.

“We postpone it because it is impossible to mobilize heavy work in this current condition,” said William via an online release on Wednesday, April 29.

He explained that Jakarta has also been enforcing Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) that hindered him to bring resources, which some of them are departed from Japan.

The company is also determined to suppress the construction budget given the current situation that possibly increases the cost. Moreover, the purchase of train raw materials must be in Yen, William added.

Even though the construction project is delayed, William ensured that the land acquisition process is still afoot, claiming his side has signed a consortium contract with Shimizu Corporation Indonesia and PT Adhi Karya in February 2020.

Therefore, phase 2A of the MRT Jakarta project that was initially slated to start on March 1 and complete on December 31, 2020, is revised to commence on June 3, 2020, and expected to finish on March 30, 2025.

The postponement will, of course, delay the auction process for CP-202 package of the Harmoni-Mangga Besar railroad construction project, CP-203 package of Glodok-Kota, CP204 package of Kota-Ancol Barat, CP205 package of signaling and rail systems procurement, and CP2016 package of the procurement of 12 train sets.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA