PT MRT Jakarta, the city-owned mass rapid transit operator, is set to open an international tender for the first stage of the East-West Line’s initial phase in the fourth quarter of 2025. The move marks a significant step forward in Jakarta’s long-term infrastructure development agenda.
The 24.5-kilometre section, stretching from Tomang in West Jakarta to the Medan Satria district in Bekasi, West Java, represents over a quarter of the planned East-West corridor and is expected to require an investment of approximately 50 trillion rupiah (US$3.1 billion).
Construction Director Weni Maulina confirmed that MRT Jakarta had entered into a consultancy agreement with the Japan Management Consultant Association (JMCA), which will oversee the tendering process.
“God willing, by the fourth quarter, possibly October or November, we’ll announce the tender, and it will be international,” she said during a press forum, as reported by Kumparan.
The tender will prioritise Japanese contractors, in line with the project’s financing structure, which includes support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and co-financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Nonetheless, Indonesian companies will have the opportunity to participate via joint operations with selected Japanese firms.
“Japan will take the lead but Indonesian firms can enter through joint operations,” Weni added. The signing of contracts is projected for 2026, with construction slated to commence shortly thereafter. Commercial operations are targeted for launch in 2032.
Preliminary development activities have already commenced in 2025, including land acquisition and utility relocation. Weni emphasised the importance of completing these preparatory stages ahead of the start of physical works.
Subsequent stages of phase one will include a 9.2-kilometre westward extension from Tomang to Kembangan. Phase two will consist of two key sections: a 29.9-kilometre segment from Balaraja in Banten to Kembangan, and a 20-kilometre stretch from Medan Satria to Cikarang in West Java.
The complete East-West Line is planned to span 87 kilometres, connecting Balaraja in the west to Cikarang in the east. The route will feature 21 stations, a mix of elevated and underground, supported by a depot facility in Rorotan.
Upon completion, the East-West Line is expected to complement the North-South Line, currently running 16 kilometres from Lebak Bulus to Hotel Indonesia and operational since 2019. The North-South corridor is undergoing a northward extension to Kota Tua, North Jakarta, which will expand the total line to 28 kilometres.
Japan has reiterated its commitment to supporting the East-West Line’s development, although Tokyo has clarified there are no immediate plans to participate in further MRT expansion across Greater Jakarta. Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yasushi Masaki stated in June that the country’s current focus remains on the East-West corridor and completing the North-South extension. Additional funding is anticipated to support urban development around newly built stations.
PT MRT Jakarta has also highlighted the necessity of expanding the MRT network to South Tangerang, emphasising its strategic value for enhancing regional connectivity.
According to official reports, Jakarta’s MRT system has already prevented an estimated 2.2 trillion rupiah in environmental damage and delivered travel time savings valued at approximately 1.9 trillion rupiah, underscoring the network’s growing role in improving urban mobility across one of Southeast Asia’s most congested cities.
-The Jakarta Post
