Jakarta opens 11-station LRT link to major transit hub

Jakarta has opened a completed 12.2-kilometre light-rail corridor connecting Kelapa Gading in the north with Manggarai in the south. The journey across its 11 stations takes about 28 minutes, giving passengers a faster direct route to one of the capital’s most important transport interchanges.

At Manggarai, travellers can transfer among the LRT, KRL Commuter Line, airport train and TransJakarta and TransJabodetabek bus services. Transportation officials say bringing these networks together should make transfers easier and help reduce reliance on private vehicles.

The corridor was delivered in two stages. A 5.8-kilometre section between Pegangsaan Dua and Velodrome was completed between 2016 and 2019. Construction of the remaining 6.4-kilometre extension to Manggarai began in October 2023. Jakarta’s regional budget funded both phases at a combined cost of Rp 12.1 trillion, or about US$685 million.

The line has capacity for approximately 80,000 passengers a day. Jakarta is also planning further LRT expansion, including a roughly two-kilometre extension to Dukuh Atas, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027 and operations targeted for 2028. The president has instructed state asset fund Danantara to help finance future development.