TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Transportation Agency is currently studying the possibility of reinstating river transportation in the capital city. River transportation, or a waterway system, was previously operated in 2007 during the era of Governor Sutiyoso.
Syafrin Liputo, Head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency, stated that the discussion aims to identify the potential for river transportation in Jakarta. "The operation of this transportation will take into consideration technical feasibility, financial aspects, market demand, and operational challenges," Syafrin told Tempo on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
According to him, the river transportation active during Sutiyoso's era is no longer operational due to several issues. These include excessive waste dumped in Jakarta's rivers, river siltation from sedimentation, high water pollution levels, and unstable water flow. These problems, he said, made river transportation difficult to navigate through the capital's waterways.
Syafrin claimed that the Jakarta Water Resources Agency is currently restructuring the Ciliwung River from Manggarai Water Gate to Karet Station, a stretch of 4.48 kilometers. This location is the same as the waterway route that operated during Sutiyoso's era. "Through this restructuring, water transportation for tourism or as a waterway will be revived," he said.
The Water Resources Agency, he revealed, plans to build a layered sheet pile embankment, connect pedestrian pathways, and increase water storage capacity by diverting or narrowing roads. Additionally, he mentioned that the government will also add mud pool installations, trash filter installations, and water transportation, specifically focused on tourism.
Referring to Tempo's archives, a trial of river transportation in Jakarta was conducted in 2005. The Head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency at that time, Rustam Effendy, stated that river transportation was one of the solutions the government wanted to test to alleviate Jakarta's traffic congestion.
The then-Governor Sutiyoso officially inaugurated river transportation for public use on June 6, 2007. At that time, the waterway only operated on Saturdays and Sundays with a fare of Rp1,500 per passenger. During its operational period, Jakarta's river transportation had three docks: alongside the West Flood Canal in the Halimun Street area, Sudirman Street, and behind Karet Station. The route had a length of 1.7 kilometers.
Jakarta's waterway transportation did not continue after Sutiyoso was succeeded by Fauzi Bowo as governor. Fauzi halted the waterway operation, deeming it ineffective as a means of transportation in Jakarta. One significant problem was that the propellers often got stuck with waste, hindering journeys. In early 2008, Fauzi ordered two river transportation fleets to relocate their operation to the Thousand Islands.
Several activists are currently striving to revive the Jakarta river transportation route. For instance, the Khatulistiwa Response Tim Foundation invites the public to navigate the former waterway route using rubber boats. This activity takes place biweekly during Jakarta's Car-Free Day (CFD). The river transportation route in Jakarta intersects with the CFD area on Sudirman Street.
Founder of the Khatulistiwa Foundation, Ahmad Ramdhani, stated that this activity has been routinely conducted since 2021. They regret the discontinuation of river transportation in Jakarta despite its potential.
By inviting the public to navigate the river, Ahmad hopes that the discussion about water transportation in the capital city can be revived. "It has great potential as a mode of water transportation. I myself tried the waterway during Sutiyoso's era," he said in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
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