LRT Collision Potentially Affects Public Trust, Says INDEF Economist

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) economist Abra Talattov said the LRT Jabodebek train collision on Monday could potentially lessen public trust against one of Indonesia’s latest modes of public transportation. 

“It will greatly affect the reputation and public trust once the project is completed, even though this [LRT] project is expected to sway the public into using public transportation,” said Talattov on Monday evening, October 25.

He believes the unfortunate collision will disrupt passenger occupation goals that the LRT consortium has set once it operates commercially. 

This is a fair concern as covering operational costs depends on  the mode of transport achieving a certain occupation level, especially considering the cost hike the project is undergoing and how long it is behind its initial completion deadline. 

The Rp23 trillion-worth LRT project was initially aimed to be completed this year but has been pushed back to 2022. 

In hopes to restore public trust, the Indef economist suggests the LRT consortium to be transparent about the cause of the collision between two LRT trains at an overpass section. Analysis about the accident must be revealed by the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) once the investigation is completed. 

“The LRT consortium must be able to guarantee nothing similar will happen again once it is fully operable,” said Abra. 

Read: Two LRT Jabodebek Trains Collide during Trial Run in East Jakarta

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA