Indonesia breaks ground on 24-km subway

By VNA September 12, 2024 | 06:44 pm PT

A worker checks an Electric Multiple Unit high-speed train for a rail link project, part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, at Tegalluar train depot in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Oct. 13, 2022. Photo by Reuters

Construction of a 24.5-km mass rapid transit line connecting Tomang, West Jakarta, with Medan Satria, a district in Bekasi city, West Java, one of Jakarta's satellite cities, began on Wednesday and is expected to be completed in 2031.

This is the first phase of a project on building a 87-km line connecting Balaraja in Banten and Cikarang in West Java. The next phase is anticipated to begin in 2033.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, President Joko Widodo stressed that the line will improve Jakarta's public transportation system, noting that the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system has served around 120 million passengers since becoming operational in 2019.

The new line will be built simultaneously with Phase 2A of the North-South MRT Line, which is expected to be completed in 2027, said MRT Jakarta president director Tuhiyat. This is an extension to North Jakarta, from the Hotel Indonesia (HI) roundabout to Kota Tua, West Jakarta, which is now 40% complete.

Previously, in 2019, Jakarta's first MRT line was put into operation, spanning 16 km long, connecting the Hotel Indonesia roundabout to Lebak Bulus (South Jakarta).

The Jakarta MRT project will be further extended to South Tangerang, Banten, from Lebak Bulus station, which is the main artery leading to the center of Jakarta. This plan was previously postponed due to financial constraints.