Commuters can pay with smartcard in Jakarta

Electronic gates installed at Corridor 6

By Raphael Michilis

Jakarta’s bus rapid transit system Transjakarta will start phasing out paper tickets in its buses by the end of May and replace these with electronic smartcards that will be issued by DKI Bank.

The new e-payment system will be, initially, available in the Corridor 6, the route with the smallest volume of commuters using a bus in Jakarta.

The prepaid card will be called JakCard and will be extended to other commuter routes August, provided the pilot in Corridor 6 is successful.

“If the implementation is successful, we will integrate the JakCard as an e-payment for theJakarta commuter-line system in May next year,” Martono, Bank DKI director, said.

DKI Bank has agreed to provide all equipment needed for the e-payment system and will be responsible for its maintenance for 10 years.

The travel cards will be offered in two prepaid versions: one for daily commuters, permitting maximum balance of IDR1m (USD107), and the one for a one-way e-card that can be purchased at bus stops.

“The price of a trip will be deducted from the balance of a prepaid card every time it is swiped. Such cards will be available at bus stops and minimarkets,” said Muhammad Akbar, Transjakarta Management Authority (BLU) chief.

“Every day, Corridor 6 serves around 30,000 commuters, as compared to Corridor 1, which serves around 70,000 people. We have completed the installation of sensor machines at all bus stops on Corridor 6,” said Akbar.

The electronic system, expected to simplify commuting in Jakarta buses and reduce queues, had been introduced in Jakarta buses before, but was abandoned in 2009 after a lack of funding for maintenance from the Jakarta administration.