President Jokowi Inaugurates LRT Jabodebek Worth IDR 32.6 Trillion

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo inaugurated the operation of the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, and Bekasi (Jabodebek) Light Railroad at Cawang Station, Jakarta, Monday, August 28.

In his remarks during the inauguration, the President expressed his hope that the existence of the LRT could reduce congestion and air pollution.

"We hope that people will flock to the LRT, both from Cibubur and its surroundings as well as Bekasi and its surroundings so that we can avoid traffic jams and reduce pollution," the President hoped.

President Widodo said Jakarta is always included in the 10 most congested cities in the world.

According to reports he received, 996,000 vehicles enter Jakarta every day, causing congestion and pollution.

"That's why the MRT, LRT, Transjakarta, BRT and airport trains were built so that all of us switch from private transportation to mass transportation," he said.

The President said that it is indeed not easy to switch to mass transportation. For example, the MRT train which looks full every day, but in fact is still not completely filled.

"For example, the MRT, although I see it is full every day, the capacity we want is 180,000 passengers every day, today it is still 80,000, there is still capacity that has not been fully filled," he said.

The President said that the Jabodebek LRT has a track of 41.2 km, the construction of which spent a budget of IDR 32.6 trillion.

"By saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim this morning, I inaugurated the light rail integration in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, and Bekasi areas," said the President.

The inauguration was marked by the tapping of an electronic card and the signing of an inscription by President Joko Widodo.