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Electricity and Integration Issues Still Load Palembang LRT

16 Oktober 2019

Palembang - The amount of electricity used for South Sumatra Light Rail Transit (LRT) light rail operations is still a problem. According to the Head of the Light Railroad Management Office, Rosita, the electricity tariff charged for LRT operations in the city of Palembang is different from the commuterline KRL electricity rates in Jakarta and surrounding areas. The nominal paid by PT. Indonesian Commuter Trains (KCI) to the State Electricity Company (PLN) are cheaper than Palembang's LRT.

 

"It can be imagined that currently South Sumatra LRT has to pay electricity bills reaching 7.5 billion rupiah per month. If you are subject to electricity traction rates like in Jakarta we only pay at least 3 billion rupiah. This is what we are trying to do, why is there a difference in rates. We hope that this can be echoed to the center in this case the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, "he said after the workshop on" The Role of LRT in Improving the Economy of South Sumatra "at the Beston Hotel last Tuesday (8/10/2019).

 

Rosita hopes that the reduction in electricity tariffs can ease the operational burden of the LRT so that it becomes more efficient. "Moreover, this has become part of a national strategic project and for the wider community," he said.

 

Rosita explained that since the beginning of the South Sumatra LRT construction, PLN has invested 200 billion rupiah to build a special electricity substation infrastructure. It was judged he would set a premium electricity tariff.

 

He really hopes that electricity tariffs can go down so that it will have a good impact on the efficiency of South Sumatra LRT operational costs. "Moreover, this has become part of a national strategic project and for the wider community," he added.

 

Rosita admitted that her party was also currently trying to study the use of solar electricity. In-depth research on diversifying electric power sources is important because it is closely related to existing systems.

 

Meanwhile, in order to improve services to passengers, the speed of the LRT series was increased from an average of 20 kilometers per hour to 30 kilometers per hour. The travel time was reduced to 47 minutes for a single trip from DJKA Jakabaring Station to SMB II Airport Station.

 

If supported by all parties, Rosita is optimistic that in the next five years the people of Palembang will enjoy riding LRT. Increasing the number of passengers at this time continues to occur even if it is felt not too much. During January to September 2019 passenger occupancy rose by 28 percent with an average of 6000 passengers per day. "When the weekend doubled," he said.

 

In addition to the issue of electricity prices, the integration of South Sumatra's LRT with other types of transportation is also not yet perfect. That is one of the reasons for the low interest of the community to ride the South Sumatra LRT.

 

Therefore, Chairperson of the Indonesian Railroad Society (MASKA) Hermanto Dwiatmoko encouraged local governments to maximize LRT such as intermodal arrangements, expenditure policies on general passenger route arrangements. "As part of MASKA, one of the ways we provide input is how to increase the number of LRT passengers and study the results of research from students," he said.

 

This was conveyed by Hermanto in the Workshop on the Role of LRT in Improving the Economy of South Sumatra Province at the Beston Hotel on Tuesday (10/08/2019), which was held by DPD MASKA South Sumatra. As an organization whose members are experts and professionals who have concerns in the field of railways, Johny Arliansyah as Chairman of the North Sumatra DPD MASKA said that his party deliberately held a full Workshop to support the construction of the LRT.

 

It is hoped that there will be further discussions with the central government, regional governments, academics, and PT. Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) as the LRT operator. This is important in addition to realizing intermodal integration as well as to avoid conflicts with pre-existing public transport managers.

 

"It is our duty with us to promote because the cost of developing LRT is very large. But apart from that, the LRT provides a multiplier effect, which is to increase new activities such as increasing land prices, saving time, reduced congestion, and many more, "said Hermanto. (MASKA)

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