The Construction of First Ever Light Rail Transit in Indonesia Starts Today

KATADATA ? The government has commenced the construction of light rail transit (LRT) today which is the first of its kind in Indonesia. The first section of the LRT or phase 1A will stretches some 24.2 kilometers (km) from Cibubur to Cawang to Dukuh Atas.

?It will be inaugurated by the President in the Taman Mini area,? said Director General of Railway Hermanto Dwiatmoko Tuesday (9/7) in his office in Jakarta.

The construction of LRT is based on the Presidential Regulation No. 98 of 2015 on Acceleration of Integrated Light Rail Transit in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, and Bekasi Areas which directly appointed PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk as its contractor.

The government will reimburse the contractor?s costs for constructing the project which is estimated to reach IDR19.1 trillion for phase 1A and 1B (Bekasi Timur-Cawang) plus an operating cost of IDR4.6 trillion. ?Thus the construction of the two phases will cost IDR23.8 trillion,? said Hermanto.

Hermanto also explained that the government?s involvement in the project is to ensure that the LRT fare will be affordable. Adhi Karya has estimated that its one-way fare will be sold at IDR37,500 if it uses its own fund while the government expects its ticket to be sold between IDR10,000 to IDR15,000.

?The government will establish a business entity. But we will definitely reimburse the contractor?s cost,? said Hermanto.

An LRT unit consists of three carriages that can accommodate 300 passengers. The Transport Ministry has set a target to run 60 LRT units in this section. ?It?s because we want to achieve a headway of one train about 2 to 3 minutes,? he said.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said earlier that the Provincial Government of Jakarta and Adhi Karya will only serve as an operator of the project to speed up its completion.

?They will prepare its infastructures such as LRT railways and buildings while its facilities such as train operator and its maintenance will be put up for auction,? said Darmin.