President Joko Widodo officially launched the construction of the East-West Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) phase 1, which will stretch 24.5 kilometers from Medan Satria in Bekasi City to Tomang in West Jakarta, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.  

"We want to expand and widen the scope of development. Today, we launch phase 1 of the East-West MRT route, from Medan Satria to Tomang," President Jokowi stated during the ceremony, which took place at Thamrin MRT Station in Central Jakarta. 

He emphasized that the new route would complement the existing north-south MRT line, which has been in operation since March 2019 and has significantly transformed Jakarta’s urban landscape. 

The Jakarta MRT, since its initial phase, has served around 120 million passengers. The north-south line currently operates from Lebak Bulus to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) roundabout and is undergoing an extension as part of phase 2A, which aims to connect the HI area to Kota in North Jakarta.  

The construction of this extension, which spans 5.6 kilometers, has reached 40 percent completion. It is divided into two segments: HI Roundabout-Harmoni, expected to be completed by 2027, and Harmoni-Kota, targeted for 2029. 

Funded by a nearly $1 billion loan from Japan, the new East-West MRT line is part of a broader effort to reduce Jakarta’s infamous traffic congestion. The project is expected to be completed by 2031. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been a key partner in the development of Jakarta’s MRT system, having also provided a loan for the first MRT line. 

“Jakarta's MRT will support the city as a global hub, facilitating modern transportation for its residents and surrounding areas,” President Jokowi remarked, highlighting the importance of the MRT in addressing the city’s chronic traffic problems. 

The launch event was also attended by Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Acting Governor of Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono and Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masaki Yasushi.