MRT Jakarta Aims for 65,000 Daily Commuters

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT MRT Jakarta is targeting to transport 65,000 passengers per day on board the Ratangga integrated train. The company's corporate secretary, Kamaluddin, said the target is for the first year of the MRT's operation.

"So there is a benchmark with Bangkok, Manila, and cities that first introduced the MRT," Kamaluddin said in Jakarta, Sunday, January 13.

Kamaluddin said his company had also conducted a public survey about the obstacles and the reasons people plan to take the MRT. Based on the survey's results, the fast train company continues to make regular repairs until it starts operating in March 2019.

"We also carry out socialization events (about MRT) to the public as often possible," he said.

As of Dec. 31, 2018, the first phase construction of the Jakarta MRT has reached 98.10 percent progress. The flyover is 97.80 percent completed and the underground lane had 98.41 percent progress.

The Phase 1 line connecting Lebak Bulus and the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout (Bundaran HI), is scheduled to start operating in March 2019; shortening the travel time between South and Central Jakarta to less than 30 minutes.

Kamaluddin said that the MRT fare is still being discussed by the Jakarta Provincial Government.

"We will announce it when commercial operations start in March. We cannot give an estimate of how much a trip will cost just yet," he said.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH