TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro stated that the completion of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project is currently hampered by land disputes which will likely drag the project one year behind schedule. The MRT project was originally set to be launched for the 2018 Asian Games.
“It will be fully operational by March 1, 2019,” Bambang said on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.
Bambang explained since the project is considered as a national priority, the problem will not get dragged on for too long. He also claimed that the land acquisition for 34 land spaces had been done without facing any significant matters.
The government is attempting to establish the funding for the second phase of construction with Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), which will lead the MRT route to Hotel Indonesia Roundabout-Ancol.
Read: First Phase of MRT Project Targeted to Finish March 2019
President Director of PT MRT Jakarta, William Sabandar, predicts that the project can reach a 93 percent completion by the end of 2017. As of today, the construction of 13 stations covering the 16.5 kilometers route has reached a 66 percent completion. “It would need a year to test it and wait for the train to be assembled.
William claims that 16 sets of trains with six cars in each set of the train are currently in its assembly process in Japan. Meanwhile, MRT Jakarta is reviewing its passenger target. The original goal of transporting 173,000 passengers can still be improved. “If the number of passengers increases, the ticket price that is subsidized by the state can be lowered,” he said.
Other than relying on Japanese funding for the second phase of construction, President Jokowi urged PT MRT together with Jakarta Administration to be creative in seeking for other sources of funding.
“Don’t be caught up by the budgeting problem,” President Jokowi said a while ago.
ANDI IBNU | DENIS RIANTIZA
