Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT MRT Jakarta confirmed on Thursday that archaeological discoveries along the Phase 2A subway route would not disrupt construction timelines, as artifact recovery and design adjustments had been integrated into the project schedule.
"The handover of archaeological finds is adjusted to align with the sequence of field construction progress," said Indra Gunawan, an MRT Jakarta project construction manager, following a ceremony at Jakarta Kota Station on Thursday.
MRT Jakarta has worked with heritage experts to handle artifacts uncovered along the historically significant route, including modifying underground engineering plans to protect major archaeological discoveries.
"When lower structural remnants of Batavia Fort were discovered, MRT altered its design. That is costly and difficult, but it was done because MRT respects Jakarta's history," said Junus Satria Atmodjo, a lead archaeologist on the project.
The US$1.6 billion (Rp25.3 trillion) underground expansion, funded through a joint Indonesian-Japanese loan, will connect Bundaran HI and Kota. As of late September 2026, construction had reached 65.1 percent completion, ahead of initial targets, with the entire project scheduled for completion in 2029.
The timeline update follows the discovery of more than 4,000 historical artifacts during excavations along the Bundaran HI-Kota line.
The finds include terracotta water channels, wooden piles associated with river walls, and ceramic fragments originating from Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Archaeologists say the artifacts provide material evidence of Indonesia's centuries-old connections to international maritime trade networks.
To preserve the cultural heritage, PT MRT Jakarta has used 3D scanning and photogrammetry in coordination with the Jakarta Culture Agency.
Selected artifacts were formally handed over to city authorities for preservation, helping safeguard evidence of the capital's history for future generations.
The recovered items will undergo curation before being displayed in a dedicated public gallery planned inside Jakarta Kota Station.
The gallery aims to connect MRT passengers and other visitors with Jakarta's historical heritage uncovered beneath the capital.
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Translator: Luthfia Miranda Putri, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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