Indonesian President Launches $1 Billion MRT Extension

Indonesian President Joko Widodo initiated the construction of a new line for Jakarta's MRT system, funded by a $1 billion loan from Japan. The expansion aims to reduce severe traffic congestion in a city of over 10 million residents. The project is set to be completed by 2031.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo launched the construction of a new line on Jakarta's mass rapid transit (MRT) system on Wednesday. This project is financed by a loan of nearly $1 billion from Japan and aims to alleviate the city's chronic traffic congestion.

Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people and often paralyzed by some of the world's worst traffic jams, initiated its first MRT line in 2019. The upcoming line will span 25 kilometers, connecting the eastern border city of Bekasi to the west, according to President Widodo.

In a statement, Widodo noted the transformative impact of the MRT system on Jakarta and Indonesia's transport network. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the new extension reiterates Japan's ongoing support following the initial 8-kilometer MRT link. This segment is scheduled for completion by 2029.

(With inputs from agencies.)