Jakarta residents will be invited to participate in public trials of the Kelapa Gading-Manggarai LRT before the route officially begins operations. Head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Budi Awaluddin, said the trials are intended to refine the service and gather feedback on any shortcomings following discussions with the Directorate General of Railways, or DJKA. The trial will be conducted in three stages, beginning with media representatives and invited guests, followed by nearby residents and then the general public through an online registration process. The trials are being held throughout this week, while the official launch date has yet to be announced.
The trial will also assess the LRT’s gate and ticketing systems, with passengers temporarily allowed to ride free of charge. Even without a fare, passengers are required to tap in and tap out using designated cards so operators can test whether the ticketing system functions properly. Budi said feedback from earlier trials involving DJKA and other stakeholders has already been collected and used for improvements. The final fare for the Kelapa Gading-Manggarai route has not yet been determined, with the government expected to announce it separately.
The Jakarta administration hopes the expanded LRT service will encourage private vehicle users to switch to public transportation. The extension to Manggarai is also being accompanied by efforts to reorganize the road space beneath the elevated track, according to Jakarta Propertindo, or Jakpro, Director of Engineering and Development Robert Sarjoko. Landscaping and greening beneath the LRT viaduct are also being carried out by the Jakarta Parks and Urban Forest Agency as part of the broader improvement effort. These measures are intended to ensure that the infrastructure surrounding the new route is organized alongside the transportation service itself.
Integration with Manggarai Station is another major component, as the LRT will connect with the existing commuter rail, or KRL, network. A pedestrian bridge is currently under construction to support transfers between the modes and is targeted for completion in September. Jakpro said the road area beneath the LRT will also be restored and reorganized so that it becomes cleaner and more functional. Taken together, the service trials, transport integration, and surrounding infrastructure improvements are aimed at making the Kelapa Gading-Manggarai extension a more practical alternative to private vehicles.
Alexander Jason – Redaksi
