Minister Of Transportation Budi Karya Calls Jakarta Loss Rp100 Trillion Per Year Due To Traffic Jams

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi revealed that DKI Jakarta Province lost up to Rp100 trillion per year due to traffic jams.

Budi asked the public and relevant stakeholders, the DPRD, the provincial government, to make urban mass transportation an existing transportation.

"This means that we reduce the number of private vehicles. This means reducing congestion, reducing pollution, environmentalization, and eliminating or reducing losses for Jakarta for one year is IDR 100 trillion," he said at Jakarta International Velodrome, East Jakarta, Monday, October 30.

Therefore, Budi also appreciated the DKI Jakarta Government for starting the construction of the Jakarta Phase 1B Velodrome-Manggarai LRT. As is known, the official project starts today.

"Therefore, I appreciate the Governor, DPRD, overseeing this urban mass public transportation activity. Contractors do well in trying to maximize TKDN and improve our human resources properly," he said.

On this occasion, Budi also emphasized that building mass transportation requires good planning and is carried out in stages.

"I am sure that the Acting Governor of DKI will not waste a year of his position to complete one stage of the construction of the Jakarta LRT. If it is not completed in stages, even for a dozen years the construction will not begin," said Budi.

Furthermore, Budi hopes that mass transportation in the DKI Jakarta area and its surroundings will be more integrated between one mode and another, thus increasing public interest in using mass transportation rather than private vehicles.

"With the longer the Jakarta LRT route, it is hoped that there will be more passengers. I once again urge the public to use mass transportation. That way, it can reduce congestion, reduce financial losses, and the environment will be better," said the Minister of Transportation.

For your information, the Jakarta Phase 1B LRT has a 6.4 km long path span which has five stations, namely the Rawamangun Youth Station, BPKP Scout Station, Pramuka Market Station, Matraman Station, and Manggarai Station.

Meanwhile, the LRT Phase 1A that is already operating has six stations, namely Pegangsaan Dua Station, North Boulevard Station, South Boulevard Station, Pulomas Station, Equestrian Station, and Velodrome Station. So that later the total length of the route from Pegangsaan Dua Station (Kelapa Gading) reaches Manggarai Station, which is 12.2 km long, with a travel time of about 26 minutes.

It is targeted that the construction of the LRT line from Velodrome to Pramuka will be completed in September 2024. Meanwhile, to Manggarai, it is targeted to start operating in 2026.