President Jokowi: MRT Ready to Operate

President Jokowi talks to a person with disability in Jakarta MRT, Thursday (21/3). Photo by: Jay/PR

The Jakarta MRT Phase 1 (Hotel Indonesia Station to Lebak Bulus Station) is ready to operate, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

“(The MRT is) ready. The safety aspects have been assessed by the management,” President Jokowi said after riding the MRT for the second time on Thursday (21/3). On that occasion, the President and First Lady Ibu Iriana were accompanied by several editors in chief of mass media and some influencers.

He added that the overall preparation for the MRT operation is sufficient even though there are still complaints about the distance between the train and the platform as well as small signs at the door. He said that the management will properly follow up the complaints.

The President, who himself rode Trans Jakarta from Monas to Bundaran HI before riding the MRT, said that the MRT has integrated with the Trans Jakarta.

President Jokowi went on to say that in the future the Jakarta MRT will have more routes which are integrated with other transportation modes and will be supported by electronic road pricing (ERP).

He further said that the Central Government and Governor of DKI Jakarta, Mayor of Depok, Mayor of Bekasi, Mayor of Bogor, Mayor of South Tangerang, Mayor of Tangerang, Governor of Banten, and Governor of West Java have agreed to develop integrated transportation mode in Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta).

For the record, President Jokowi will officially inaugurate the operation of the Jakarta MRT on Sunday (24/3) during which the President will also attend groundbreaking ceremony of the MRT phase 2 construction.

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Mia Medyana