Construction Of Long Awaited MRT In Jakarta Begins

Jakarta, Oct 10 (Antara) - Jakarta`s Governor Joko Widodo launched the construction of the long-awaited mass rapid transit (MRT) system, believed to be able to reduce traffic congestion in the capital, on Thursday. "For 24 years, residents of Jakarta have been dreaming of travelling in an MRT. During the 24-year period, perhaps, some had lost hope of realising the dream. Thank God, today, the groundbreaking task could be carried out, and it is hoped the project would be completed by 2018," said the governor at the groundbreaking ceremony at Dukuh Atas, Central Jakarta. Jokowi, as the governor is popularly called, said the project would certainly increase traffic congestion and in view of that he urged PT MRT, the company carrying out the project, to inform the public of the impact. "I have a request for PT MRT. Keep the public informed of the impact of the construction project as it will certainly increase traffic congestion in Jakarta," he said. Meanwhile, he said he would encourage people to use public mass transport systems through various policies that he would issue to reduce congestion. "Once the MRT project is completed, policies that support it would be issued. The Electronic Road Pricing system would be set up in all corridors to encourage people to use mass transport systems. A system of allowing cars with odd and even plate numbers to operate on certain days in certain corridors and the imposition of high parking fees and others would be carried out to encourage people to change their lifestyles," he said. PT MRT�s President Director Dono Boestami, meanwhile, said the first civil engineering task to be carried out is the construction of slopes. "Slopes are constructed to strengthen earth walls and provide strong buffer for the construction work so that roads do not move or trigger landslides while the construction process is underway," he said. The first phase of the MRT project would stretch 16 kilometres from Lebak Bulus to Hotel Indonesia, roundabout, consisting of a 9.8-kilometre-long elevated road from Lebak Bulus to Sisingamangaraja and a 5.9-kilometre-subway from Sisingamangaraja to Hotel Indonesia, roundabout.