President Jokowi officiates revitalized Manggarai Railway Station

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Joko Widodo officiated the completed first phase of the revitalization of Manggarai Station in South Jakarta, which doubled the railway station’s seven rail tracks to 14 tracks, thereby increasing the station capacity.

“Since 2016, we developed Manggarai Station as one of Jakarta’s central stations in the Manggarai-Cikarang line double-track project by doubling the rail tracks (in the station), from seven to 14,” the president stated at Manggarai Station here, Monday.

Manggarai Station is among the busiest railway stations nationwide, as the bustling commuter railway routes transporting passengers from Jakarta’s peripheries to the inner city are served by the station, he stated.

According to the head of state, expanding the station by increasing railway tracks is essential to increase the railway movement frequency and headway and bolster passengers’ movement and accessibility from and to Jakarta and its satellite cities.

Moreover, the revitalization of Manggarai Station bolstered public transportation integration in Jakarta, as the expanded station could now facilitate passengers going to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Banten, by railway.

Other public transport modes, such as bus rapid transit TransJakarta and online ride-hailing transports, would be better accommodated by the expanded station, he added.

“With the improved and integrated (public transport) facility, connectivity will be better. Residents’ mobility and activities will be more facilitated and efficient, and they will also be keener to use public transport,” Jokowi stated.

As the revitalization project is completed, Manggarai Station has 14 railway tracks comprising 10 on-grid rail tracks and four elevated rail tracks.

Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Acting Governor of Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono, and other government ministers accompanied the president to officiate the railway station.