Jakarta. The ambitious expansion of Jakarta’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system will require at least Rp 50 trillion (approximately $3 billion), according to the operator PT MRT Jakarta.

The new phase will introduce an east-west line stretching 24.5 kilometers from Medan Satria in East Jakarta to Tomang in West Jakarta. The route will feature 21 stations and a train depot, said Weni Maulina, MRT Jakarta’s Director of Construction, during a press briefing on Thursday.

An open international tender is slated to be launched in October or November, Weni said, with funding secured from Japanese lenders.

“Japanese companies are likely to participate, but they must partner with local Indonesian contractors,” she added.

The bidding process is expected to conclude within a year, paving the way for a groundbreaking ceremony in 2026, starting near the Kwitang area. Preparatory work is already underway, including land clearance, utility relocation, and other early-stage development efforts.

Meanwhile, the northbound extension of the MRT line -- connecting Hotel Indonesia Roundabout to Kota -- is now halfway completed. This 6-kilometer segment, budgeted at Rp 12 trillion ($739 million), is scheduled for completion by 2029.

MRT Jakarta claims the existing line has significantly improved urban mobility and environmental conditions in the capital.

“Jakarta’s traffic congestion index is now lower than Bandung’s,” said Mega Tarigan, Director of Operations, citing independent research.

According to Mega, the MRT system helped prevent Rp 2.2 trillion in environmental damage and saved Rp 1.9 trillion in travel time across the city's most congested areas.