Jakarta City Council Commission B Chairwoman, Nova Harivan Paloh gave the thumbs up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between PT MRT Jakarta CEO Tuhiyat and private developers. The deal centers on a feasibility study for the East-West MRT Line Phase 2, spanning from Kembangan to Balaraja.

He views the planned expansion as a strategic move to beef up regional connectivity while curbing Jakarta’s notorious traffic.

"I think it’s a great move. We’re looking at a 130-km stretch with 21 planned stations involving developers. This is going to bolster connectivity into the city and serve as a real solution to tackle gridlock," he stated, Thursday (2/5).

He noted that Jakarta’s mass transit development and its satellite cities go hand in hand. Regional interconnectivity, he added, is the name of the game when it comes to building an efficient, integrated system.

“Jakarta can’t go it alone; it needs its neighbors. Currently, Transjakarta is already linked up with Bogor and Depok via six routes. This MRT expansion will solidify those connections, making life much easier for commuters—especially workers from Bogor and Banten—who head into the city every day,” he explained.

Further, while the exact impact on traffic reduction is still under review, he is optimistic that the benefits will kick in as Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) projects take shape.

By leaning into the TOD concept, Nova hopes to decentralize mobility between Banten and Jakarta. It aims to thin out the crowds and gradually take the pressure off the capital’s notorious traffic.

“We’re still in the early stages—just the MoU and study phase for now. However, the business upside and the future of TOD development look incredibly promising,” he noted. “These TOD zones will feature park-and-ride facilities, so commuters can leave their cars near the station and hop on the MRT into Jakarta,” he concluded.