Jakarta battles gridlock with new MRT
JAKARTA: Jakarta commuter Irnawati can spend up to four hours daily in her car, but now she and millions of others may get some relief as the traffic-clogged SouthEast Asian city opens its first mass rapid-transit system.
Today, Jakarta will inaugurate the US$1.1bil (RM4.5bil) project seen as crucial to tackling some of the world’s worst congestion, which can turn commutes into hours-long endurance tests.
For Irnawati, the new line means she might now be able to move back to her suburban home on the edge of the Indonesian capital.
After getting fed up with the gridlock, she resorted to renting a room near the office during the week rather than face a torturous drive in the vast metropolis of 30 million.
“I can hardly wait until the MRT starts operating,” said the 36-yearold, who goes by one name, said.
“It’ll save me lots of time and make my commute much more convenient and safe.”
Over the past decade, rising incomes in the country of 260 million has created a ballooning middle class and sent vehicle ownership soaring.
But it’s also brought hazardous air pollution and costs billions annually in economic losses as cars crawl along its roadways in the steamy tropical heat – alongside an underused bus system.
The 16km line will stretch from central Hotel Indonesia to Jakarta’s south, almost six years after construction began on the Japanesebacked project.
It aims to cut travel times between the two points to just 30 minutes from about two hours.
Construction on a second line linking downtown to Jakarta’s northern port is also kicking off Sunday with completion set for around 2024.
A separate elevated rail network is being built to link cities with Jakarta, nicknamed the Big Durian after the pungent fruit that bitterly divides fans and its detractors.
The public transit projects are part of a sweeping infrastructure push that president Joko Widodo hopes will boost Indonesia’s fortunes – and get him re-elected in national elections next month.
But transport analysts cautioned that the new line and cheap prices won’t be a cure for a city with few decent sidewalks and a vehicle friendly culture. — AFP