Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has disclosed that 31 train cars will be operated for LRT (Integrated Railway Track) services in the area of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, and Bekasi (Jabodebek).
"After completion, 31 train cars of LRT will serve Cawang-Cibubur, Cawang-Dukuh Atas, and Cawang-Bekasi Timur," the president tweeted on his Twitter account @jokowi and Instagram on Wednesday.
Jabodebek LRT railway track connects Cawang and Cibubur. (ANTARA/Hafidz Mubarak A/FA)
State-owned railway company PT Inka delivered a series of train cars for LRT on October 8, 2019, he wrote.
In November, the train had conducted trial operations on the Cibubur-Cawang track.
"This is the latest transportation mode to serve commuters in Jakarta and the surrounding areas after the MRT railway," Jokowi remarked.
The tweet included a one-minute video on the LRT trial operation.
Until 10 a.m. local time, the tweet uploaded at 8:56 a.m. local time had garnered 1,200 retweets and 4,669 likes.
Related news: Trials for LRT's Greater Jakarta line next week
Related news: LRT Jakarta to provide access for disabled passengers
In the meantime, Jakarta, with a population of some 10 million people, is notorious for being one of the world's most traffic-congested and populated cities.
The government has provided several means of public transportation, such as the Trans-Jakarta bus services and commuter train KRL Jabodetabek to serve the Greater Jakarta or Jabodetabek areas. However, traffic jams continue unabated, and the use of KRL Jabodetabek as well as the Trans-Jakarta bus services has become inconvenient since they are always crowded during peak hours.
To tackle congestion, authorities have been constructing Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) that will connect Greater Jakarta.
On March 24, 2019, the Jakarta MRT (South-North Line), the first subway in Indonesia, officially became operational in Indonesia’s capital city.
The first line, covering a route of 16 km linking the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta, complements the capital’s Transjakarta bus service, the Commuter Line railway, and other modes of public transportation in the capital. The second phase of the Jakarta MRT is expected to be completed in 2024, with additional extensions.
Related news: MRT station named ASEAN promotes bloc to public: President Director
Related news: MRT plans to power trains with renewable energy
