TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's commuter line operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia, or KAI Commuter, has decided that four stations in West Java will only accept electronic money (e-money) starting December 5, 2020. The four stations are Bogor, Cilebut, Cikarang, and Rangkasbitung.

So far, these stations have implemented special transactions for multi-trip cards (KMT) and bank electronic money on weekdays only.

"Starting in December, the Multi-Trip Card and e-money policy will apply every day," KAI Commuter's external relations manager Adli Hakim said in a written statement, Wednesday, November 25.

Once the policy is enacted, passengers can no longer buy guaranteed daily tickets (THB) at the four stations.

"In times of a pandemic like now, non-cash transactions can reduce the risk of being exposed to paper money, which can be a medium for Covid-19 transmission," Adli added.

KAI Commuter has already implemented the policy in several stations in Jakarta and Depok, including Sudirman, Universitas Indonesia, and Cikini. There are nine stations that only serve e-money cards.

KAI Commuter noted that nearly 80 percent of Jakarta Metro electric train (KRL) passengers took advantage of non-cash transactions; 52 percent with KMT, 25 percent with banks' e-money cards, and 23 percent THB.

Read: KAI: Train Tickets for Christmas and New Year Trips Now Available

Lani Diana Wijaya