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The President Checks Out The Autonomous Tram In IKN

As Indonesia gears up to celebrate its 79th Independence Day, President Joko Widodo, along with Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, and several other ministers from the Indonesia Maju Cabinet, checked out the Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) in the new capital city, IKN, on Tuesday (August 13). After taking a ride on the autonomous tram, the President expressed his hope that this electric mass transportation system could be implemented in IKN and other cities across Indonesia.

"I just tried it out. For autonomous trams, the roads need to be wide, and the roads in IKN are designed to accommodate that. I believe all cities in Indonesia need green energy-based mass transportation. Cities like Surabaya, Makassar, Medan, and Bandung definitely require systems like this," the President stated.

He pointed out that one of the advantages of using autonomous trams is their relatively low cost. Since they don’t rely on tracks and can use existing roads, there’s no need for extensive infrastructure development.

"An autonomous tram costs around 70 billion rupiah for one unit. In comparison, building an MRT costs about 2.3 trillion rupiah per kilometer, and an LRT is roughly 700 billion rupiah per kilometer. That’s the difference. The challenge right now is that most cities have narrow roads, so not every city can use ART," the President explained.

During the visit, the Transportation Minister mentioned that there’s currently one autonomous tram in IKN, which will serve as a feeder vehicle for the Independence Day ceremony participants. This tram will operate at a cruising speed of 40 km/h on the Western and Eastern National Axes.

The travel time for one round is 5 minutes, with a 30-second wait at each stop. There are 4 stops for the autonomous tram: Kemenko 1, Kemenko 2, Kemenko 3, and Kemenko 4, according to the Minister of Transportation. He added that the autonomous tram will run on electricity sourced from batteries. This is expected to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, aligning with the smart, green, and sustainable city concept of IKN. The Minister also mentioned that the tram will charge after morning guest mobilization and before evening guest mobilization, ensuring that the charging process won’t disrupt the surrounding area since it operates quietly. The autonomous tram will enter a testing phase for 60 days, from August 10 to October 9, 2024, to assess its operational feasibility. After this phase, the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) will evaluate it alongside the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN). From October 10 to December 31, 2024, the tram will be showcased to the public, allowing people to experience it for free. The Minister expressed optimism that the autonomous tram will operate effectively in IKN and serve as a model for other cities in Indonesia to adopt modern, smart, and eco-friendly mass transportation.

Tag: Budi Karya Sumadi IKN Independence Day Joko Widodo