Indonesia sets to boost mass rapid transport in cities

Indonesian transport ministry plans to rise and intensify the use of train as transport facilities in the country's big cities in a bid to address traffic jam.

Newly appointed Transport Minister Budi Karya stressed on Wednesday that the roles of train on the transportation in the highly populated areas will be stepped up to 25 percent from the current level of 10 percent.

"I think this is an efficient transport means, therefore its contribution must be risen," he said at Manggarai train station.

The minister said that the train capacity to carry passenger will also be boosted.

Taking Jakarta as an example, Minister Budi said that the capacity could be increased to 420 million passengers per year from the current level of 280 million people.

Indonesia, home to over 250 million populations, is attempting to address the problems of traffic in big cities, particularly in the country's capital of Jakarta, the capital city of West Java province, Bandung and other big cities in Java Island.

Cooperating with the Chinese government, Indonesia is constructing the first fast-train in the Southeast Asia's region, connecting Jakarta and Bandung cities, which can significantly smooth the flows of humans and goods between the two business centers.

Such project not only solves traffic problems but also brings a huge economic benefit for the communities.

The government has hinted to develop such projects in other parts of the country, including a fast train connecting Jakarta in western part of Java Island and the country's second largest city of Surabaya in eastern the island. Enditem