Both canals were originally built to transport agricultural harvests from Bogor to Batavia (now Jakarta).

[2] They are among the main rivers in Jakarta, and part of the Ciliwung Cisadane flood control project.

[4] The name Kali Baru ('New River') is associated with a fishing harbor in the Tanjung Priok area of North Jakarta.

[5] After the new fishing harbor was closed in 1988, the area was used for unloading lumber bound for Jakarta.

The canal was completed 14 years later, in 1753, but its use for transportation failed due to leaks and the high cost of building multiple water gates.

Due to high maintenance and repair costs, in 1776, Van Imhoff ordered the opening of another canal from the Cisadane River to the Ci Liwung.

[7] The Baru Barat River is grouped into the Central Area Stream Handling System of Jakarta, along with the Krukut River, Ci Liwung, and Banjir Kanal Barat.