Live traffic updates for Jakarta commuters on web and radio

City-owned mass rapid transit (MRT) operator PT MRT Jakarta has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with local radio station Green Radio 89.2 FM and lewatmana.com to broadcast traffic information around MRT construction sites.

The radio station will provide traffic updates, as well as broadcasting live reports from construction sites and talk shows regarding updates on the ongoing MRT project.

Meanwhile, lewatmana.com, a website that provides traffic information through its website and Twitter account @lewatmana, will install surveillance cameras in several construction locations.

Real-time pictures can also be streamed on PT MRT Jakarta’s website jakartamrt.com and lewatmana.com.

“We prepared 14 CCTV cameras from Lebak Bulus to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle,” lewatmana.com founder Hendry Soelistyo said.

Dono said PT MRT Jakarta would not have to allocate a certain amount of budget to fund the cooperation as both private parties had agreed to fund the services themselves.

“Both Green Radio and lewatmana.com will fund the services by themselves so PT MRT Jakarta will not have to pay for anything,” he said.

Traffic management will be the priority of PT MRT Jakarta as the project operator and the city administration during the MRT construction.

The MRT construction project is divided into eight packages, comprising three underground civil works, three elevated civil works, the MRT system and the MRT rolling stock.

The construction of the first phase of the MRT track will be funded by US$1.19 billion soft loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).