Govt Halts MRT, LRT Projects to Focus on Jakarta-Cikampek Toll

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi demanded project construction of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) be moved to other locations as to prioritize the Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road project. The three projects were constructed in the same location in KM 11-17.

Budi reasoned that the progress of Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road project had reached 57.5 percent. “At least, it will be finished in the next four months. Our contractors will recalculate it. So, we make the elevated toll project as a priority,” said Budi as quoted from an official Cabinet Secretary website, setkab.go.id, on Wednesday, November 21.

The decision to move the two projects aimed at alleviating congestion around the project site. He demanded the project termination last for the next several months or, if necessary, until before the 2019 Ied el-Fitr.

Budi also urged PT Jasa Marga as the firm in charge of Jakarta-Cikampek elevated toll road project to arrange measures to deal with traffic density during the project.

In the same occasion, PT Jasa Marga president director  Desi Arryani said the target completion of the elevated toll road project was tightly set because Trans Java toll would be operated in the near future.

“Trans Java toll road will be operational, but it may be hindered in Jakarta-Cikampek because the construction is still underway. Thus, we plan to maximize the toll function,” said Desi.

Desi further appealed to the public to pass Jakarta-Cikampek toll road in daylight because the project construction would be carried out at 22:00 until 06:00 local time.

CAESAR AKBAR