TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) said the Manggarai-Soekarno-Hatta Airport railway station will be operational in early 2017. At present, the development of land acquisition is hampered at the Batu Ceper (Tangerang) -Bandara section. “The Jakarta tracks, are already clear," said Executive Vice President of Logistics Development of PT KAI, Rocsjid Budiantoro, on Wednesday, September 9.

The Batu Ceper-Airport train track along 12 kilometers is a new alignment which will be connected by railway line from Manggarai station in Jakarta. From Manggarai to Batu Ceper, the trains will use the existing Manggarai-Tangerang lanes along 20 kilometers.

The acquisition of land on the Batu Ceper-Airport section are now in the stage of paying out compensation. PT KAI must liberate 815 parcels of land in five districts and eight villages. According to Rocsjid, now 40 percent of the land are cleared and ready to be build. "Throughout the six kilometers of land owned by Angkasa Pura II, is ready to be developed," he said.

PT Angkasa Pura II targeted the Airport station to be completed next year. Train operation in 2017 is expected to coincide with the opening of Terminal 3 Soekarno-Hatta Ultimate Airport. The station will be established in an area of 7,200 square meters.

From Jakarta to Soekarno-Hatta airport there will be two trains available, the commuter train and the electric train (KRL) from Manggarai to the airport via Batu Ceper and express trains linking Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. The KRL is targeted to operate in 2017, and the express train in early 2019.

JONIANSYAH