Deputy Governor Riza Says The Dutch Tram Rail Found In The MRT Project Will Be Moved

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patrai (Photo: Twitter @ArizaPatria)

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria revealed that his party will move the Dutch tram tracks which were found in the Glodok-Kota MRT Jakarta construction project phase 2A.

"Indeed, in the Dutch era, there were tram tracks. Of course, it will be moved later," Riza told reporters, Monday, December 27.

This Gerindra politician did not mention the location of the transfer of the old tram tracks. Riza also admitted that the DKI Provincial Government would not use the former tram tracks for public transportation in Jakarta.

"Later, we don't have an interpretation yet. We are still using the MRT, LRT, busways, public transportation, there is no tram construction yet. We will see in the future whether it is needed," he said.

Previously, Twitter social media was enlivened with discussions about the discovery of the tram line from the Dutch colonial era. The rail construction was found under a concrete road in the Glodok area, Central Jakarta. The MRT project, accidentally found a number of historical artifacts.

This tram line was discovered last August, when PT MRT Jakarta carried out a soil test for the construction of MRT phase 2, the HI-Kota roundabout route. PT MRT Jakarta Construction Director Silvia Halim said that his party was still investigating the findings with archaeologists.

In its investigation, PT MRT Jakarta continues to coordinate with the DKI Jakarta Culture Service and the Restoration Session Team (TSP).

"We found it and we consulted it with the DKI Provincial Government. So, there are several directions from the DKI Provincial Government to treat this finding. They will be presented later," said Silvia.

Previously, PT MRT Jakarta also found a number of historical artifacts at the MRT Jakarta phase 2 project site. The historical objects are thought to date from the 18-20 century AD.

The artifacts range from bullets, pottery bottles, Chinese and European ceramic fragments to the teeth of bovidae, a kind of ruminant animal such as buffalo and bison.

All of them were found at 14 excavation points in the MRT phase 2A construction area, to be precise, from the underground area of Jalan MH Thamrin to parts of Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat.