President Officially Commences Construction of the Tomang-Medan Satria MRT
President Joko Widodo inaugurated the commencement of the construction of the East-West MRT Line in Jakarta, specifically Phase 1, Stage 1, from Tomang to Medan Satria, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. The East-West MRT Line will span a total length of 84.10 kilometers, connecting Cikarang in West Java to Balaraja in Banten, and will feature 48 stations along its route.
Phase 1, Stage 1 of the East-West MRT Line will cover a distance of 24.5 kilometers, linking Tomang in West Jakarta to Medan Satria in Bekasi, West Java.
In addition to the main route, a supplementary line extending 5.9 kilometers will be constructed from Ujung Menteng in Jakarta to Medan Satria, providing access to the depot located in Rorotan, North Jakarta. This will bring the total length of the constructed lines to 30.4 kilometers.
The development of the East-West MRT Line is divided into four phases: Phase 1, Stage 1 from Tomang to Medan Satria; Phase 1, Stage 2 from Kembangan to Tomang, measuring 9.2 kilometers; Phase 2 East from Medan Satria to Cikarang, spanning 21.8 kilometers; and Phase 2 West from Kembangan to Balaraja, covering 29.9 kilometers.
The construction of Phase 1, Stage 1 from Tomang to Medan Satria has been prioritized due to its high passenger potential. The inauguration of the East-West MRT Line Phase 1, Stage 1 was held at the concourse of Thamrin Station on the North-South MRT Line, which connects Lebak Bulus to Bundaran HI and Ancol.
Thamrin Station, located in Jakarta, is part of the North-South MRT Line Phase 2A, which links Bundaran HI with the city center and is currently under construction. This station will serve as an interconnection point between the North-South MRT Line and the East-West MRT Line.
“With the invocation of bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby declare the commencement of the construction of the East-West MRT Line Phase 1, Stage 1,” stated the President, as quoted in a written statement from the Presidential Secretariat.
Present at the event were the Japanese Ambassador Yasushi Masaki, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono, Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi, interim leadership of the DKI Jakarta Regional House of Representatives Achmad Yani, and the President Director of PT MRT Jakarta (Perseroda) Tuhiyat.
In his address, President Jokowi highlighted the success of the MRT North-South Line's first phase, which runs from Lebak Bulus to Bundaran HI and has been operational since March 2019.
The MRT North-South Line extends from Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to Ancol. The first phase, covering 22 kilometers from Lebak Bulus to Bundaran HI, is already in operation, while the second phase A, from Bundaran HI to Kota (5.8 kilometers), is currently under construction. The second phase B is undergoing a feasibility study.
"The first phase of the North-South line has transformed the face of Jakarta, revolutionizing the transportation landscape of our city and our nation, Indonesia," stated the President.
The government is committed to expanding the MRT network in Jakarta towards the east-west direction to enhance integration. "We aim to broaden and extend the reach of our development," the President explained.
The Head of State emphasized that the East-West MRT project will strengthen Jakarta's position as a global city and a center of agglomeration with modern public transportation. "The development of the MRT is an effort to create a better and more sustainable modern transportation civilization," remarked Jokowi.
