11-9-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesian President Joko Widodo officially kicked off construction on Wednesday for a new line in Jakarta’s mass rapid transit (MRT) system. The project, funded by a loan of nearly $1 billion from Japan, is part of an ongoing effort to tackle the severe traffic congestion that plagues the capital.
Jakarta, home to over 10 million people, is notorious for some of the worst traffic jams in the world. Including the surrounding suburban areas, the population swells to three times that number. In 2019, the city inaugurated its first MRT line, a significant milestone aimed at modernizing Jakarta’s transport infrastructure.
The newly announced MRT line will span 25 kilometers, running from the city of Bekasi on Jakarta’s eastern edge all the way to its western side. Construction is expected to be completed by 2031.
“The first MRT line has not only changed the face of Jakarta but has also revolutionized transportation in Indonesia,” President Widodo said during the ceremony. “This new line will bring even more improvements and benefits to the city’s mobility.”
In May, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) confirmed it would provide a loan of 141 billion yen ($998 million) to fund the construction. JICA had also financed the first MRT line, which covers a 15-kilometer stretch between southern and central Jakarta, featuring 13 stations. An extension of this initial line, heading northward, is currently under construction and is projected to be completed by 2029, seven years after work commenced.
