17-12-2023 (JAKARTA) Japan has pledged continued funding for the expansion of Jakarta’s mass rapid transit (MRT) east-west line project, which is set to commence construction in August 2024, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi on Saturday.
During a bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed various topics, including the construction of the MRT’s east-west line and other economic matters.
Marsudi stated during an online press briefing, “The President also urged for the completion of the north-south line phases 2A and 2B according to schedule.”
The north-south MRT corridor spans 16 kilometers from Lebak Bulus to the HI Roundabout, accommodating up to 100,000 daily passengers.
The ongoing expansion of the Jakarta MRT network includes a 15.7-kilometer line from the HI Roundabout to West Ancol, divided into two phases: 2A and 2B.
Phase 2A, which connects the HI Roundabout and Kota, is currently in progress.
Phase 2B, linking Kota and Ancol, will commence in due course. The President expressed optimism that the MRT Phase 2 connecting the HI Roundabout and Ancol will be fully operational by 2027.
The ambitious Jakarta MRT east-west line will span 84.1 kilometers, connecting Balaraja in Banten to Cikarang in West Java.
The project is expected to be financed through a co-financing scheme involving the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
JICA, a Japanese government agency focused on providing official development assistance to developing countries, offers financial aid for development projects and infrastructure loans in partner countries.
In February last year, Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati announced that JICA’s financial commitment to Indonesia had reached 551 billion yen (US$3.87 billion).
Jiro Tominaga, ADB country director for Indonesia, shared during a press briefing on Friday that the bank is actively engaged in discussions with the Indonesian government to support the expansion of the Jakarta MRT. Tominaga mentioned that the bank will collaborate with JICA to explore financing options, including loans, for the construction of the MRT’s east-west line.
