JAKARTA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated on Sunday operation of the country's first subway line, known as Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in the capital city.
"I hereby inaugurate operation of the first phase of MRT," the president said, officially commencing operation of the modern transportation system in a station in downtown Jakarta.
The subway is highly expected to ease frequent traffic jams that cost some 67 trillion rupiah (about 4.7 billion U.S. dollars) annually to the capital's economy, according to the National Development Planning Ministry.
The first 15.7-km MRT runs from Jakarta's southern suburb of Lebakbulus to a business district in central Jakarta area, with 13 stations.
The president also announced commencement of the second phase project, a 7.8-km section to the business district in northern Jakarta from the station, which is expected to be completed by 2024.
Plan to build the MRT in Jakarta was drafted in 1985 with ground breaking conducted decades later in 2012.
Longer MRT project with a total route of 87 km linking eastern to western part of the capital city has been planned, expected to complete by 2030.
