SEAToday.com, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) launched the construction of phase 1 of the East-West Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), from Medan Satria, Bekasi City to Tomang, West Jakarta, along 24.5 km.

The launching was carried out by President Jokowi at Thamrin MRT Station, Central Jakarta, Wednesday.

“We want to expand, widen the range of development, so today we will build another MRT mode for the east-west MRT phase 1, namely from Medan Satria to Tomang along 24.5 km,” he said.

Jokowi said the new track would expand the north-south MRT from Lebak Bulus-HI which has been operating since March 2019.

“If we look now, the north-south phase 1 has changed the face of Jakarta, has changed the face of transportation in Jakarta and our country Indonesia,” he said.

President Jokowi said that since its operation, the Jakarta MRT has served around 120 million passengers as a significant achievement for public transportation in the capital city.

In his statement Jokowi added that the construction of the MRT is still ongoing, with a focus on phase 2A which connects the northern and southern areas from the Hotel Indonesia (HI) area to the City.

The project is expected to further expand the transportation network and provide convenience for Jakartans in their daily activities.

“This will provide support to Jakarta as a global city, Jakarta as an agglomeration city with its surroundings, and that civilization is truly a modern transportation civilization present after the MRT is later completed,” he said.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Acting Governor of Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono, and Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masaki Yasushi also attended the launching ceremony.