MRT Jakarta gears up for passenger safety

MRT - JAKARTA. City-owned PT MRT Jakarta has been preparing measures to ensure passenger safety ahead of the MRT's official opening scheduled for the end of next month.

Manpower Minister M. Hanif Dhakiri lauded the company’s move to prioritize the occupational health and safety (K3) of workers and passengers.

“The implementation of the K3 system in the MRT has been sufficient. Besides, worker [health and safety] awareness is quite strong,” he said during a site visit to MRT stations on Monday.

The minister added that he had no significant concerns over health and safety because the MRT was well prepared as its opening approaches.

“There are some things that need to be tidied up, for instance, lift access for disabled people,” he added.

MRT Jakarta president director William Sabandar said on the same occasion that the firm had upheld health and safety since the beginning of the MRT's construction.

“We have proposed for [health and safety] certification. For the MRT, safety and security is of utmost importance,” he said.

MRT Jakarta is set to conduct an evacuation drill from Feb. 27 until March 11 involving relevant stakeholders, including the police, military, fire and rescue team and health services.

MRT Jakarta operational and maintenance director Muhammad Effendi said the drill would mainly examine how the authorities respond to emergencies.

“For instance, a fire, train breakdown, electrical failure or bomb threat all require evacuation,” he told The Jakarta Post.

As a hazard prevention measure, the MRT has installed signage on the floor and stairs. The company will also carry out periodic maintenance in each train car where emergency intercoms and fire extinguishers are available.

Moreover, every MRT station has a medical room for passengers or workers who need first aid. Procedures for calling an ambulance have also been established for more serious injuries.

William emphasized, however, that no matter how well prepared the MRT was, the behavior of passengers would still be important for safety.

“Everyone has the responsibility to ensure the safety and comfort of others,” he said, citing the example of immediately reporting suspicious activity to security.

A month before its official launch, the progress of the 15.7-kilometer first phase of the MRT that connects Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta to Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Central Jakarta, stands at 99 percent completion.

In parallel, the firm is preparing for the groundbreaking for the second phase of the MRT that spans 7.8 kilometers connecting Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to Kota in West Jakarta. The MRT phase 2 project is expected to be completed by 2024.

The city administration has yet to announce the fare for the MRT. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the administration would consult with the Jakarta Legislative Council prior to announcing it.

The proposed fare is Rp 8,500 (59 US cents) per 10 kilometers.

The company will also open registration to members of the public for a free ride on the MRT during the trial run from March 12 until the end of March. Those who are interested need to register in advance at jakartamrt.co.id. Registration opens on March 5.

William estimated that around 28,000 people will use the MRT during the public trial run, while 65,000 people expected to use it during the first few months of operation.