KONTAN.CO.ID - JAKARTA. PT MRT Jakarta Perseroda, the city's mass rapid transit corporation, has officially signed a partnership with Japan's Sojitz Corporation for the construction of the MRT Phase 2A, a project valued at 5 trillion Rupiah (approximately $350 million).

The MRT Phase 2A, stretching 5.8 kilometers, will connect the MRT Station at Bundaran HI to Kota. The announcement was made by the President Director of MRT Jakarta, Tuhiyat, at the MRT Bundaran HI Indonesia One stop on Wednesday (17/4).

Tuhiyat revealed that the corporation had faced three failed attempts to secure a contractor due to external factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts affecting the semiconductor supply chain.

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As a result, the corporation decided to conduct an International Competitive Bidding (ICB) in 2023 to find a new contractor. The ICB concluded on February 20, 2024, with Sojitz Corporation emerging as the winning bidder, as confirmed by a letter of acceptance.

The corporation aims to complete and operationalize the MRT Jakarta Phase 2A Bundaran HI-Monas project by 2027. "As for the extension from Harmoni to Kota, it is expected to be completed by the end of 2029," added Tuhiyat.

The Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Karya Sumadi, who was also present at the event, expressed hope that the partnership would help alleviate traffic congestion in Jakarta through the provision of integrated public transportation.

"By continuing the construction of the MRT across various corridors, we hope to facilitate public mobility, reduce traffic congestion and air pollution," he said.

The Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia for its continuous support of the project and to the Japanese government for its assistance in realizing the MRT project.

According to Heru, the successful procurement of public transportation in Jakarta will serve as a model for other regions and a success for Indonesia. "I hope that our cooperation with Japan will continue and I wish you all the best in your duties. I hope this cooperation will continue to build a sustainable MRT," he concluded.

Editor: Syamsul Azhar