It is estimated that over four million residents of the surrounding Greater Jakarta area commute to and from the city each working day.

However, the growth of Jakarta's satellite cities was high so that the mobility of residents from the capital to Bodetabek was very large.

[12] Until then, public transportation in the city mainly consists of the TransJakarta bus rapid transit system,[13] the KRL Commuterline commuter rail,[14] and various types of independent buses; starting from the very small bemo and pickup-truck sized mikrolet, to slightly larger minibuses such as the widely used MetroMini and Kopaja minibuses and full sized city buses.

Many studies have been done either by the Germans, the French, the Japanese, or the World Bank, and no decision has been taken regarding the implementation of a public transportation system.

An international consortium was formed in August 1995 to prepare a feasibility study of the first line of the MRT system.

The consortium is named Indonesian Japanese European Group (IJEG), composed of Itochu Corporation of Japan, German companies Ferrostaal AG, AEG, and Siemens, ABB, Taylor Woodrow, and Indonesian companies such as Bakrie Brothers, Lippo, Bukaka Suthanthabie, Steady Safe, etc.

In April 1997, an MOU agreement was signed with Tycoon Bamabang Trihatmodjo (Bimantara Group) for the joining of the consortium planning a US$2 billion system.

JICA offered the Fatmawati‒Monas route with several alternative construction designs to the government which were obtained after conducting a feasibility study.

[9][17] The process of developing the first line of the Jakarta MRT began when President SBY designated the system as a national project.

In November 2006, the first loan agreement was signed with JICA (then Japan Bank for International Cooperation or JBIC) for the MRT project.

[23] This event was held in conjunction with the laying of the first stone to mark the start of construction by the new Governor, Joko Widodo.

[26] The first line of the Jakarta MRT was officially operated on 24 March 2019 after being inaugurated by President Joko Widodo.

[33] According to the JABODETABEK Urban Transportation Policy Integration Phase (JUTPI) report, the Jabodetabek transportation master plan (RITJ) will eventually form 10 MRT routes, which by 2035 will consist of:[34] Meanwhile, according to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government on 12 November 2021 live at the Jakarta Investment Forum (JIF),[35] the Railway Masterplan 2039 (Concept of DKI Jakarta Transportation Masterplan) will be divided into two based on ownership status.

[36] Phase 1 of the project was funded through a soft loan (Rp16 trillion) (US$1.2 billion) from the JICA with a 30 years tenure and 0.25% interest per annum.

[42] Phase 4 will be funded by a South Korean consortium led by Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation with estimate cost of Rp21 trillion (US$1.9 billion).

However, land acquisition issues hindered the process, prompting the administration to find an alternative location, which will also be designed to house the train depot.

On 1 January 2019, the president director of MRT Jakarta, William Sabandar said the city administration had decided to make Kota the final station for Phase 2.

Phase 2A will extend the Red line northwards, from Bundaran HI to Kota and consists of 7 stations over 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi).

However, due to problems securing bidders for the construction and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the extension is now targeted to be fully operational by 2028.

This line is planned to have 48 stations and a length of approximately 84,102 to 87 km[59][60] with funding requirements of IDR 160 trillion.

[68] In December 2020, the President Director of MRT Jakarta, William Sabandar, announced plans for the construction of Phase 4.

[82][83] The implementation of the multi-trip Cruise Card as a payment method was approved by Bank Indonesia on 14 November 2019.

[85] To optimise intermodal transport, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government implemented an integrated payment method using the Jak Lingko card and application.

[87][88] Through the application, users can pay from all e-wallets that are connected to the Indonesian QR Code Standard (QRIS).

[90] Payment through this application uses several digital wallet services, namely OVO, Dana, LinkAja, ShopeePay, MotionPay, GoPay, and AstraPay.

[91] Passengers are required to tap their cards at the fare gates when entering and exiting the paid area of the stations.

Since October 2021, the KAI Commuter Multi Trip Card (KMT) can be used on the Jakarta MRT service.

All stations are equipped with X-ray machines and walk through metal detectors for passengers entering the MRT system.

[95] Contract CP 108 for the procurement of rolling stock for the Jakarta MRT was awarded to a consortium led by Sumitomo Corporation on 3 March 2015.

The name, which is Old Javanese for chariots,[102] was derived from Mpu Tantular's Kakawin Sutasoma (also the source for Indonesia's national motto).