Why Jakarta chose light rail over a high-speed monorail

Health · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Jakarta's transit history is defined by a pivot from a suspended monorail to a light rapid transit system. This shift wasn't just about engineering; it was a strategic move to avoid environmental disasters and ensure a more consistent, reliable public transport network for the Indonesian capital.

The Jakarta LRT (Lintas Rel Terpadu Jakarta) was born from the ashes of a failed monorail project. The monorail was ultimately cancelled after investors failed to meet the Jakarta Provincial Government's advanced requirements. More importantly, the Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, objected to the monorail's depot construction above the Setiabudi Reservoir. This was a deliberate move to prevent a repeat of the 2013 Jakarta flood, which was caused by the collapse of the Latuharhari Embankment. The project was officially authorized under Presidential Regulation Number 99 of 2015. This legislation aimed to accelerate public transportation across the capital. The government also directly appointed PT Jakarta Propertindo and PT Pembangunan Jaya to manage the construction.

With the monorail sidelined, the LRT became the priority. Construction on the primary route began on June 22, 2016, with a project value of approximately Rp5.29 trillion (around US$347.6 million). While the system was intended to be ready for the 2018 Asian Games, it only served as a limited trial run during the event. The Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) ultimately deemed buses more effective for athlete transport due to the unfinished construction. The first trainsets from South Korea arrived at Tanjung Priok Port in April 2018. Platform screen doors were also installed at every station. The construction for the first route only truly commenced in early 2017 after land preparation finished.

The system now operates with rolling stock from Hyundai Rotem, where each two-car trainset carries between 270 and 278 passengers. The network is expanding significantly; Phase 1B, funded entirely by the provincial budget at a cost of Rp5.5 trillion, is set to connect Velodrome to Manggarai. Long-term plans envision a massive network stretching over 59.0 kilometres, including dedicated North, South, and South East lines to alleviate the city's heavy traffic congestion. A flat fare of Rp 5.000 applies to the entire system. Passengers can use various electronic wallets, including LinkAja, to scan QR codes for entry. Additionally, the government is planning a separate Pulogebang-Joglo route spanning over 32 kilometers.

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