JAKARTA: The city administration is offering a special flat rate of Rp 1 for public transportation on Transjakarta bus rapid transit (BRT), Greater Jakarta light rail transit (LRT) and the Jakarta mass rapid transit (MRT) to ease congestion during the presidential inauguration on Sunday (Oct 20).
The special fare will apply only on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the Jakarta Transportation Agency on Friday.
“People who are interested in watching the presidential inauguration are advised to travel using public transportation on Jakarta MRT, Greater Jakarta LRT and Transjakarta with a fare of Rp 1,” the agency wrote in the statement.
Aside from the city-operated public transportation, the Greater Jakarta Commuter Line train operated by PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI), a subsidiary of state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), is also offering the flat rate of Rp 1 for its passengers on Sunday.
KCI warned of potential congestion in stations close to locations for the presidential inauguration, such as Palmerah, Tanah Abang, Sudirman and Juanda.
The People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) is slated to inaugurate president-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka at 10am on Sunday.
The ceremony will take place at the Senayan legislative complex in Central Jakarta.
After the ceremony, Prabowo is expected to parade from Senayan all the way to the State Palace, with hundreds to thousands of people expected to gather in the streets to welcome the new president and to bid farewell to outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
At least 13 stages have been set up along Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin, with performers celebrating the inauguration.
City authorities are encouraging residents to take public transit to avoid congestion due to road closures and traffic rerouting on Sunday.
Several roads around and leading to the Senayan legislative complex will be diverted.
The city transportation agency has prepared several parking spots across the city for people travelling to the city using private vehicles.
The National Police and Indonesian MIlitary (TNI) will deploy at least 100,000 personnel across the capital, including snipers and riot units, to safeguard the series of events around the Prabowo-Gibran inauguration.
Security personnel will also be deployed to escort more than 30 foreign representatives who will attend the inauguration. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
