TEMPO.CO, Palembang - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is confirmed to officially introduce Indonesia`s first fully operational light rail transit (LRT) in mid-July in Palembang. The soon-to-be inaugurated LRT will connect the Jakabaring Sports City to the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport.

In its initial stage, the LRT will set its fare ranging from Rp5,000 – Rp10,000 for a single trip. “We hope that the tariff will not overburden future passengers,” said Nelson Firdaus, the Head of Transportation Agency in South Sumatra on Tuesday, July 10.

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The ticket fare will apply from the LRT’s inception to December 2018. Meanwhile, the fixed tariff will be determined collectively with the Transportation Ministry, the provincial government, and several stakeholders.

Nelson further stated that the Rp10,000 LRT tariff, based on the previous meeting, will be implemented for the trip from the Palembang airport to the Jakabaring sports complex.
Meanwhile, trips outside the airport and between LRT stops will cost Rp5,000.

South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin said that President Jokowi will conduct an official visit to Palembang on July 13-16, where he will not only officially introduce the LRT project but will also inaugurate several sports venues in the Jakabaring Sports City.

PARLIZA HENDRAWAN