TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tangerang city administration, in conjunction with South Tangerang city and Tangerang Regency administration plans to build a light rail transit (LRT) network in a bid to combat traffic congestion in the area.

"Improving public transport connectivity between the three areas is hoped to reduce congestion throughout Tangerang," said Tangerang Mayor Arief R Wismansyah on Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

The LRT is planned to run from Summarecon precinct in Tangerang Regency, to Alam Sutera in South Tangerang, and onwards to Tangerang City Hall and Poris in the city of Tangerang.

The next phase of the project will see the LRT network expanded to include the surrounding residential areas of Cibodas, Karawaci, Karang Tengah, Ciledug, Pinang, and Larangan.

According to Arief, Tangerang's regional government has begun the discussions on the proposed LRT line.

"Two proposals have been put forth - one will see the LRT operate side-by-side on Tangerang's road network, while the other plans to build the LRT line on Tangerang's riverbanks. Both proposals need to ensure that the safety of passengers are adequately protected," said Arief.

Although the plan is faced with a regulatory hurdle that requires all rail development in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi to involve the state rail company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Arief is upbeat that the plan - which was first proposed in 2011 - could be realised.

Investors from China, Malaysia, and Jakarta Monorail has expressed their interest to participate in the public transportation project, said Arief.

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