Jakarta. MRT Jakarta, the operator of the railway system known as the mass rapid transit, recently revealed that there is a possibility of extending the public transport's tracks to South Tangerang.

The 16-kilometer MRT Jakarta line today has connected Lebak Bulus and the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout. In 2018, MRT Jakarta claimed that the South Tangerang government sought to have the tracks extended into the city but the plans never really take shape. MRT Jakarta is now considering reviving the expansion plans, according to its president director Tuhiyat.

“We will start pushing for the [South Tangerang MRT talks] to start again after everything is done. Perhaps starting early next year, but we would like to focus on Jakarta first. We already have a lot on our plate,” Tuhiyat said on Wednesday.

It is up to whether the municipal governments -- particularly those in South Tangerang and its province Banten -- are ready to fund the expansion works. Tuhiyat added: “Because we are using the local governments' budget.” 

Tuhiyat did not say whether MRT Jakarta would set a deadline for this South Tangerang expansion. But if they really proceed with the plans, having the railway on elevated tracks -- above the street level on a viaduct -- would get the project done relatively faster, according to Tuhiyat.

MRT today is currently working on the Phase 2A construction, which will add seven additional underground stations: Thamrin, Monas, Harmoni, Sawah Besar, Mangga Besar, Glodok, and Kota. MRT Jakarta recently signed a deal worth Rp 4.7 trillion (approximately $290 million) with Japanese firm Sojitz  Corporation to link the HI Roundabout station with Kota. The Phase 2A construction will finish by the end of 2029.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been providing Indonesia with official development assistance loans for Indonesia’s infrastructure projects. According to the Finance Ministry in February 2023, JICA has provided at least 551 billion yen (around $3.5 billion), 227 billion yen of which went to the Transport Ministry to build the MRT.