Dear Mr. Jokowi, I Hope The Jabodebek LRT Will Have No Problems Like The Palembang LRT

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Screenshot of the Presidential Secretariat YouTube)

JAKARTA - Yesterday, President Joko Widodo tested the Jabodebek Light Rail Transit (LRT) light rail. Transportation observer from the Indonesian Trasportation Society (MTI), Djoko Setijowarno, hopes that the Jabodebek LRT will not be like the Palembang LRT.

Because, since the beginning of operation, the Palembang LRT has often experienced problems during operation. After only a week of operation, the Palembang LRT broke down three times. Currently, the Palembang LRT is empty of passengers.

"The Jabodebek LRT should not repeat the mistake in Palembang, which has a minimal trial period," Djoko said in his statement to VOI, Thursday, June 10.

According to Djoko, the government should not ignore supporting access to each LRT station which has not yet been completed. The government must move quickly to build road network access to every station outside the city of Jakarta.

In addition, providing connecting transportation between residential areas to the nearest station. Given, in fact, there is a potential of 81 percent of private vehicle users who want to try switching to using LRT.

"The reason is that the travel time is shorter and the travel costs are much cheaper than toll roads," he said.

Then, there is also the potential for changing modes of public transportation to the Jabodebek LRT, as many as 74 percent of public transport users want to try switching to using the LRT. The reason is the shorter travel time and their place of activity is close to the LRT station.

What needs to be considered is the public transportation access facility to the LRT station. "For example, near commercial/office centers, parking facilities are available, near settlements, near main roads, wide station entrance access, and the availability of feeders from LRT stations with other public transportation such as buses, public transportation, online transportation, and Transjakarta buses," he explained. he.

Yesterday, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) checked the development of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) which will pass in the Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Bekasi (Jabodebek) area.

He said that currently construction has reached 84 percent and will be piloted before being operationalized.

"I visited to see the progress of the Jabodebek LRT development. Approximately 84 percent of the construction progress, 84.7 percent of the construction progress," said Jokowi.

He said, before operating in June 2022, this LRT will be tested first.

"We hope that in April 2022 the trial will start, start the trial and we will start the operation in June 2022," said the former DKI Jakarta Governor.

He explained the government's reason for building the Jabodebek LRT. According to him, this LRT will later become an integrated mass transportation.

"MRT, LRT, airport trains, TransJakarta buses are all integrated. So there is efficiency in people traveling from one point to another," he said.