Allocating Rp32.6 Trillion, LRT Jabodebek Achieves 2 MURI Records

Dream - President Jokowi inaugurated the Integrated Cross-Road Transportation (LRT) Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi (Jabodebek) today, Monday (August 28, 2023) at Cawang Station, Jakarta. The Jabodebek LRT project has spent Rp32.6 trillion with a flat discount fare of Rp5,000 for all destinations until the end of September 2023.

“With the blessing of Allah, this morning I officially inaugurate the integrated light rail transit in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, and Bekasi,” said President Jokowi as quoted from Liputan6.com, Monday, August 28, 2023.

The President hopes that the public can make the most of the existence of LRT. According to the President, with optimal usage, LRT can reduce congestion and pollution.

“We hope that the public will flock to switch to LRT, both from Cibubur and its surroundings as well as Bekasi and its surroundings, so that traffic congestion can be avoided and we can also reduce pollution,” said Jokowi.

This 41.2-kilometer LRT has experienced multiple setbacks. Initially, the Jabodebek LRT project was planned to be inaugurated on August 18, 2023, as a gift for Indonesia's independence. The inauguration plan was delayed.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi recently revealed that President Joko Widodo requested that the Jabodebek LRT must undergo repeated trials in order to operate optimally. President Jokowi himself participated in several trial runs.

Achieves 2 MURI Records

Some time ago, President Jokowi uploaded a photo of the curved track of the Jabodebek LRT above the Kuningan flyover in South Jakarta to his Instagram account. Jokowi stated that the LRT track is complicated because it hovers above the flyover and is curved.

However, Jokowi expressed his gratitude for the successful design and construction of the track by young engineer, Arvila Delitriana. The graduate of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) successfully designed an amazing bridge that is precisely connected.

"Imagine the greatness of this construction: spanning 148 meters with a curved radius of 115 meters and using concrete material weighing 9,688.8 tons, equivalent to more than three times the weight of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue in Bali," said Jokowi.

The steel used weighs 2,929.7 tons, equivalent to more than five times the weight of an Airbus A-380 aircraft," he added.

The Indonesian Record Museum awarded two records to the Jabodebek LRT bridge. This bridge broke the record for the longest curved concrete box girder bridge and as the bridge with the largest axial static loading test load.

Regarding the Operation of LRT Jabodebek, Jokowi: No Need to Rush

Dream - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the operation of LRT Jabodebek should not be rushed. The readiness of security and safety needs to be prioritized first.

Jokowi made this statement after personally testing the Jabodebek LRT from Harjamukti Station in Depok, West Java, to Dukuh Atas Station in Jakarta.

"There is no need to rush to operate it, but everything related to the system, security, and safety must be prioritized," he said as quoted from Instagram @jokowi, Thursday, August 3, 2023.

Jokowi, accompanied by Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, personally inspected the system readiness and stated that he felt comfortable after traveling 26 kilometers.

"It was comfortable and everything went smoothly. We wanted to see the readiness of the system, security matters, and safety matters, so they need to be assessed," he said.

Jokowi hopes that once the Jabodebek LRT is operational, it will truly reduce the congestion in Jakarta. However, he explained that this is the first LRT in Indonesia, so it is natural that there will be evaluations.

According to Jokowi, there will definitely be improvements in the system, technical aspects, and others after the operation.

"MRT is the first in Indonesia. LRT is also the first in Indonesia. High-speed trains are also the first in Indonesia. So, if there are shortcomings, things that need to be corrected, and things that need to be evaluated, I think it's reasonable," he explained.

For information, the Jabodebek LRT will serve two routes: Cibubur-Dukuh Atas, spanning 26 kilometers, and Bekasi Timur-Dukuh Atas, spanning 30 kilometers.