PT MRT Jakarta (Perseroda) has launched a new ticket payment system using contactless credit cards, or EMV Contactless.
This payment system is the first of its kind to be implemented on a public transport service in Indonesia. The innovation allows residents and foreign tourists travelling on the Jakarta MRT to tap in and out directly using their credit cards without having to purchase or top up a dedicated transit card.
“Today, the contactless credit card payment system, also known as EMV Contactless, is being implemented on the Jakarta MRT, and this is the first time in Indonesia that it uses credit cards,” said Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung at the launch of the EMV Contactless Ticket Payment System at Bundaran HI MRT Station in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, 29th of July.
EMV is an abbreviation for Europay, Mastercard, and Visa, three major companies that pioneered global chip-based payment security standards for payment cards, including credit and debit cards. The EMV Contactless system allows passengers to pay for their journeys using Visa and Mastercard credit cards without needing a dedicated MRT card or topping up the balances of the e-money accounts that are currently widely used by the public.
“[Usually] if they want to use the MRT, they have to use a special card. Now with Visa and Mastercard, they can use [those credit cards] straight away,” Anung explained.
The Governor stated that a convenient transport payment system is a crucial element in enhancing Jakarta’s competitiveness as a global city. He noted that similar systems have already been implemented in several major cities around the world.
“Therefore, as a global city, Jakarta must now be on par with cities that have already implemented this, including Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, New York, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Sydney, and so on,” he explained.
The Jakarta Provincial Government aims to expand the use of contactless credit card payment systems beyond the Jakarta MRT. Going forward, the system is expected to be introduced across various modes of public transport operating in Jakarta and the surrounding areas.
“It won’t just be the MRT; in the future, I’m [also] asking for the LRT, Transjakarta, and TransJabodetabek [to use contactless credit card payment systems],” Anung added.