TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo and ministers of economic affairs yesterday, February 6, held a meeting at the Presidential Palace on light rapid transit (LRT) project. Among the issues being discussed was a relaxed deadline for completing the project.
“I want to ensure that the LRT construction can be completed on time in 2018 or to delay it a little to 2019,” President Jokowi said in his opening address.
LRT projects are built in two locations: Jakarta and Palembang. The initial completion target was 2018, which includes commissioning. The government expects the LRT to operate during Asian Games 2018 in the two cities.
In Palembang, the construction of MRT project is expected to complete by 2018. The 23-km long railway project will cost Rp11 trillion.
The LRT project in Jakarta is facing financial trouble. Jakpro, one of the developers, is Rp2 trillion short of being able to complete the project.
Jokowi did not explain the reason for relaxing the deadline for completing LRT projects.
“We have no experience in the development of LRT, MRT and bullet train. I expect that we can learn something, transfer of technology in this very first development, for a better future,” the President said.
