The planned route of Jakarta’s MRT. Photo: www.jakarta.go.id
PT Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), the company that’s constructing the MRT system in Jakarta, has asked for an additional Rp 1.3 trillion to complete the project after delays in the construction of the Fatmawati line.
According to the Jakarta Assistant Regional Secretary for Construction (Asbang) Mara Oloan Siregar, PT MRT requested the additional funds to cover the costs of improving the overall quality of the steel framework on MRT stations and train tracks, as well as installing anti-earthquake technology.
Mara said the provincial government hasn’t approved the funding request because figure was calculated by a Japanese consultant firm, not by PT MRT themselves.
“We ask PT MRT to calculate their costs. They asked for the fund [to be approved] as soon as possible, well we say to them, if they can calculate [their own costs] quickly, then we’ll give them the money quickly as well,” Mara said, as quoted by Metro TV yesterday.
We hope this budget wrangle won’t delay the completion date of the MRT too badly. The Lebak Bulus – Hotel Indonesia Roundabout line is scheduled to be opened to the public by the first quarter of 2018.
