A long-standing question about how Jakarta will expand its mass transit network into South Tangerang has finally been answered. Instead of a full MRT extension, the government has opted for a Skytrain, an elevated light rail system, that will serve as a direct link between South Tangerang and Jakarta.
Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed the plan, stating that the Skytrain would continue from the current MRT endpoint in Lebak Bulus toward areas in South Tangerang. The government will partner with private developers, especially large-scale housing companies like Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD), to support the project.
“Whoever the developers are, they already manage large residential areas. Our collaboration with these developers will mainly focus on station construction,” Dudy said during a recent media briefing, as quoted by CNBC Indonesia on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
He emphasized that this joint effort isn’t just about serving residents of private housing estates. The broader South Tangerang population will also benefit. “We’ve introduced this concept in specific station areas where we’re working with private developers,” he added.
The Skytrain plan includes two routes. One will connect to Mekarsari, functioning as a feeder to the LRT Harjamukti line. The other will link South Tangerang directly to the existing MRT network at Lebak Bulus. According to Dudy, the route within South Tangerang will cover areas from Serpong to Bintaro.
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This move is expected to ease the chronic traffic congestion in Jakarta and its surrounding buffer zones. Authorities believe the new transport mode will persuade more people to switch from private vehicles to public transit.
“Skytrains seem easier to integrate into residential zones,” Dudy explained.
A key factor behind choosing Skytrain over MRT is cost efficiency. Unlike underground rail or traditional MRT extensions, Skytrain construction won’t require expensive and time-consuming land acquisition. Instead, it will make use of government-owned land, such as public roads.
To facilitate this, the Directorate General of Railways at the Ministry of Transportation is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Their aim is to allow the use of regional government assets—including public land—for building the pillars that will support the Skytrain structure.
“The Director General is currently pushing for changes to Minister of Home Affairs Regulation No. 9 of 2009,” Dudy noted.
With support from both government agencies and private sector developers, the Skytrain is shaping up to be a major shift in how South Tangerang connects to Jakarta—potentially transforming daily commutes and reshaping urban mobility in the region.
