IO, Jakarta – Clean, punctual, efficient, affordable. These are the hopes Jakarta’s residents have for the MRT. When compared to neighboring nations, such as Singapore or Malaysia, the arrival of the MRT feels late. However, as the saying goes, better late than never.
Now, for those wishing to try out the MRT, PT MRT Jakarta has opened up the opportunity for the public to participate in the MRT’s public trial stage. Registration can be done via www.jakartamrt.co.id, which will reroute hopeful registrants to www.ayocobamrtj.com. Registration has been opened since 10.00 WIB on Tuesday, 12 March 2019 and will end on March 23, 2019. The public trial stage will be held from March 12- 24, 2019.
Through the website, those wishing to participate can register using Bukalapak.com accounts, where they then must fill out a registration form and will receive their electronic tickets via their smartphones which they can show officers on the day of their participation. Registrants are divided into two categories: special needs and non-special needs. This is done as the condition of a number of MRT Jakarta stations are still in trial and have not yet been completed. During the public trial stage, a per day quota will be enacted and if certain days are full registrants may choose another day to participate.
PT MRT Jakarta is working together with PT Bukalapak.com to organize the public trial.
In a press conference held on Tuesday (12/3/2019), President Director of PT MRT Jakarta William Sabandar stated that all stations would be opened for the public to see. “All 13 stations will be opened to be seen, and if this public trial goes well and there are many participants, there is a possibility it will be started earlier at 07.00 WIB,” said the President Director in the PT MRT Jakarta Central Office in Wisma Nusantara, North Jakarta. “As of March 12, there have already been 190,599 people registered from the 285,600 target for the 12 days ahead on March 23,” he added.
In this 1st phase, MRT Jakarta has built 13 stations and one depot, covering 15.7 km from Lebak Bulus to Bundaran Hotel Indonesia with 16 train circuits (14 circuits operating and two backups) which will operate from 05.00 to 00.00 WIB every day. PT MRT Jakarta hopes to transport at least 130 thousand people every day. There is also a plan to have a train specifically for women at busy times, namely from 07.00 to 09.00 in the morning to 17.00 to 19.00.
Through this trial, it is hoped that the public can experience the mass transport service before it begins commercial operation and can give feedback to improve the quality of service offered. During and after participating in the trials, it is hoped that the public can share their experiences with their friends and family and campaign for proper mass transit etiquette. The presence of MRT Jakarta hopefully will push the public to move from private transportation to mass public transit. (Yoga Agusta)
