Indonesia withholds public route for Tangsel MRT to prevent land speculation

Indonesia's Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, has confirmed that the planned Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) route to Tangerang Selatan (Tangsel) will not be publicly disclosed to prevent land speculation. Purwagandhi explained that opening the route information prematurely would allow land brokers to operate freely, potentially inflating land prices and increasing project costs.

"We usually won't open it, because why? Later, land brokers will spread everywhere, it's a pity for them (investors), right?" Dudy stated in Jakarta on Friday night, as reported by Antara. He was responding to social media rumors about the MRT line passing through specific areas like Pondok Cabe and Pondok Aren.

The government's strategy is to keep the route confidential to avoid its exploitation for speculative land price increases. Purwagandhi emphasized that such price hikes, driven by leaked information, could make the project less efficient and more expensive for the government and investors. "They (investors) will calculate whether to go through Pondok Cabe or Pondok Aren," he added.

Investors themselves have an interest in maintaining route secrecy to ensure the land acquisition process is not disrupted by price surges, which could jeopardize the project's viability. Purwagandhi noted that unreasonable land price increases primarily benefit speculators rather than the public who need improved mass transportation for daily mobility. The ultimate goal of the Tangsel MRT is BSD, and investors will determine the route based on business studies and regional needs without early disclosure.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of Railways at the Ministry of Transportation, Allan Tandiono, mentioned that the development study for the Tangsel MRT line is currently being compiled by investors in collaboration with PT MRT Jakarta. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, providing a basis for determining the final route.