Pramono Launches Contactless MRT Tickets to Streamline Public Transport

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has launched a new payment system for MRT Jakarta, allowing passengers to use contactless credit cards (EMV Contactless). This innovation marks the first of its kind in Indonesian public transit, aimed at providing greater convenience for the public.

This is a first for Indonesia

He expressed his hope that this initiative would further bolster modern and inclusive public transport services, supporting Jakarta’s ambition to become a resilient global city.

"This is a first for Indonesia—using credit cards, whether it’s Visa, Mastercard, or other providers in the future, for transit payments," he expressed, at the MRT Bundaran HI Bank Jakarta Station, Wednesday (7/29).

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Through this innovation, he aims to put Jakarta on par with other major global cities such as Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, New York, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Sydney.

He believes this move will make the city even more attractive to tourists.

"Previously, they had to use a specific transit card to ride the MRT. Now, with Visa and Mastercard accepted, they can use them directly," he explained.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) 2024 shows that approximately 2.5 million foreign tourists visited Jakarta. Consequently,

Pramono is pushing for this contactless system to be rolled out across all transportation modes in Jakarta, including LRT, Transjakarta, and Transjabodetabek.

This means commuters and visitors alike can enjoy seamless intermodal transfers using just one integrated payment method.

At the same time, Jakarta is ramping up its transport connectivity. The 12.2-km LRT line from Pegangsaan Dua to Manggarai is just around the corner, with an official launch slated for August. The entire trip is expected to take only about 28 minutes.

"We are set to open the LRT from Pegangsaan Dua to Manggarai this August. It covers 12.2 kilometers and serves 11 stations," he explained.

Following the launch, the city plans to push ahead with the LRT extension to Dukuh Atas, with funding already locked in. Meanwhile, construction on the Dukuh Atas pedestrian deck is already underway to better link the city's transport hubs.

"Hopefully, this will vastly improve connectivity across Jakarta," he added.

For the record, the implementation of the EMV Contactless system is a collaborative effort between the Jakarta government, Bank Indonesia, PT MRT Jakarta, Bank Mandiri, Mastercard, Visa, and several national banks.