Minister of Transportation Commences Groundbreaking of LRT Construction of Velodrome-Manggarai Route

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi represents President Jokowi at the groundbreaking ceremony of LRT Phase 1B of the Velodrome-Manggarai route on Monday (10/30). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, on behalf of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, commenced the groundbreaking of Light Rail Transit (LRT) Construction Phase 1B of the Velodrome-Manggarai route on Monday (10/30), at Velodrome area, East Jakarta.

“Today I officially commence the groundbreaking of the Manggarai Phase 1B LRT Project,” said the Minister.

On that occasion, Budi also expressed his gratitude to the regional government that has paid attention to the development of the urban mass transportation.

“Jakarta is one city that has become an example, a model for cities in Indonesia. The good intention of the regional government is highly appreciated because it used its own budget, it initiated the development, it successfully provided urban transportation that will serve as an example for other provinces,” he said.

The Minister of Transportation also underscored President Jokowi’s directives regarding the importance of urban mass transportation, which is not only to reduce congestion but also to create jobs and trigger economic movement.

“We talked earlier that with this project that later will reach Manggarai, the integration of the MRT, LRT, KRL, and even the high-speed train will be better. Thus, citizens can use it well,” he said.

Furthermore, the Minister also underlined the importance of integration between transportation modes to facilitate community mobility.

“We have to make a more careful planning. For example, if you stop at Pramuka Market, intermodal transportation must be provided to go to other places,” said the Minister of Transportation. Closing his remarks, Minister of Transportation invited people to switch to mass transportation. (BPMI SETPRES/UN) (RKW/FI)