Jakarta Digs Deeper to Solve Its Surface-Level Congestion Problem
Construction is underway on a new underground concourse beneath the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, known locally as Bundaran HI, that will physically connect the area's MRT station to surrounding offices, hotels, and shopping malls. The project covers 3,180 square meters and broke ground earlier this year, according to Cyril Raoul "Chico" Hakim, a special staffer to Governor Pramono Anung, who shared the details with The Jakarta Post.
The goal is straightforward: let commuters move between transit and their destinations without stepping into open air, crossing busy roads, or competing with traffic. For a district that already handles between 450,000 and 500,000 MRT passengers each month, the concourse is as much about managing existing demand as it is about encouraging new riders.
Who It Helps and Why It Matters
The case for the project is easy to make on a hot Jakarta afternoon. Linda Nabilla, a 29-year-old commuter who travels daily from Depok in West Java, switched from driving to using the LRT and MRT two years ago, citing cost savings. She told The Jakarta Post the underground passage would remove one of the remaining friction points in her journey: the exposed walk between the station and her workplace near Hotel Indonesia. "People don't have to walk under the scorching sun," she said.
Her experience reflects a broader shift in how Jakartans are using public transit. Bundaran HI sits at the heart of Jakarta's central business district, surrounded by international hotels, premium malls, and corporate towers. Improving the last few hundred meters of a commute in that zone has outsized impact on whether people choose transit over a private car.
Chico framed the project in those terms as well, describing it as part of an effort to build "a better-connected, pedestrian-friendly city that is less dependent on private vehicles."
What the Concourse Will Connect
The source text does not specify which individual buildings will be linked by name, but the concourse is designed to serve the cluster of commercial and hospitality properties immediately surrounding Bundaran HI. The station already sits at one of the MRT's most prominent stops, and the expanded underground footprint will increase its effective catchment area without requiring passengers to navigate surface-level intersections.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Hotels and guesthouses near Bundaran HI have a concrete selling point to update: once the concourse opens, guests arriving by MRT from the airport rail connection or from southern Jakarta residential areas will be able to reach the lobby level without outdoor exposure. Independent operators in the district should review how they describe transit access in their listings and guest communications. Highlighting a direct, weather-protected underground link from the MRT is a meaningful upgrade over generic "near public transport" language, and it speaks directly to business travelers and cost-conscious visitors who are already choosing rail over taxis.
For properties slightly outside the immediate Bundaran HI cluster, the project is also a signal: Jakarta's administration is investing in pedestrian infrastructure around its transit nodes, and guests' expectations for walkable, car-free arrival experiences are likely to rise accordingly.
The details in this post were first reported by Vidya Pinandhita for The Jakarta Post, published July 2, 2026. This post appears on the Qontaktly travel blog.
First reported by Jakarta Travel.