Coloured dark red on the map, the line is currently 15.7 km (9.8 mi) long and serves 13 stations.

The origins of the line and its development came in 1995, when the provincial government set up an idea to build the MRT system (subway), A giant Japanese company, Itochu, was certainly a candidate for the tender.

Three months later, when then Governor of DKI Jakarta (at that time), Soerjadi Soedirdja, announced the formation of a consortium to build the system.

[3] The plan would have involved a 14 km route between Blok M and Jakarta Kota Station, fully built underground.

[1] The following year, the wide and comfortable pedestrian paths in Singapore were related to the construction of subway stations and this was planned to be completed and operational in 2000.

The development of the first line began when then President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono designated the system as a national project.

On 30 January 2019, President Director of PT MRT Jakarta, William Sabandar announced that the groundbreaking ceremony is delayed again as the State Secretariat had yet to issue a land-use permit for the area near Medan Merdeka.

[12] The groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 was finally held on 24 March 2019 and advanced works began in June 2019 near the future Monas station.

The debt payment burden is divided into 49% by the Jakarta Provincial Government and 51% by the Directorate General of Railways.

In addition, there are transit-oriented areas at Istora Senayan Station, Blok M, ASEAN, Fatmawati, and Lebak Bulus.

The development of the TODs can take the form of building public facilities and housing around the station, as well as improving access to other modes of transportation.

Blok M Bus Terminal (via short walk) Lebak Bulus Lebak Bulus Bus Terminal (via short walk) The North–South line of the Jakarta MRT uses a fleet made by the Nippon Sharyo consortium from Japan which and known as "Ratangga".

An additional fourteen sets (under Contract Package CP 206) will be added to the trains for the second phase leading to Ancol.