City readies funds for MRT project<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration has earmarked some Rp 135 billion
\n(US$13.5 million) in its 2006 budget draft for the ambitious mass
\nrapid transit (MRT) network, the first concrete step taken to
\nmaterialize the undertaking.<\/p>\n
\"I have been informed by Minister (of Transportation) Hatta
\nRadjasa that the construction of the MRT line will begin next
\nyear. The project will be financed by a loan from the Japanese
\ngovernment,\" Governor Sutiyoso said early this week when asked
\nabout the budget allocation.<\/p>\n
The 32-kilometer MRT will stretch from Kota in West Jakarta to
\nLebak Bulus in South Jakarta, passing by National Monument
\n(Monas) Park in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The construction of the Monas-Lebak Bulus section will start
\nin 2006 and is expected to be completed in three years.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso submitted last Monday Jakarta's 2006 budget draft to
\nthe City Council for deliberation.<\/p>\n
Head of the City Transportation Agency Nurachman explained
\nthat part of the funds would be used to acquire land for the
\nproject and for traffic control prior to and during construction.<\/p>\n
\"Construction of the line will take around three years,
\ntherefore we should establish traffic control along the roads
\naffected by the project to minimize traffic congestion,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
A number of Asian cities, including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur,
\nBangkok, Taipei, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Tokyo, have an MRT
\nnetwork.<\/p>\n
The Lebak Bulus-Kota MRT project is part of efforts made by
\nthe city administration to reduce traffic congestion in the
\ncapital.<\/p>\n
The Monas-Lebak Bulus line will be the first of the two stages
\nof the south-north MRT project in the capital. The second line
\nwill run from Monas to Kota.<\/p>\n
The first stage will include the construction of nine elevated
\nstations from Lebak Bulus to Istora in the Senayan Sports Complex
\nin Central Jakarta and three underground stations from Bendungan
\nHilir in Central Jakarta to Monas park.<\/p>\n
The Lebak Bulus-Monas section is estimated to cost about
\n$767.66 million, while the cost of the second is yet to be
\ncalculated.<\/p>\n
The MRT project was approved for the first time in 1974. The
\ngovernment was on the brink of materializing it in 1995, after
\nthe Japanese government committed to providing funds for the MRT.
\nHowever, the financial crisis in mid-1997 led to the project's
\npostponement.<\/p>\n
The MRT network is estimated to carry some 322,400 passengers
\nper day in 2009 and 440,700 passengers per day in 2015.<\/p>\n
The city administration began developing the busway in 2002
\nand currently the city operates one busway corridor linking Blok
\nM in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Two more corridors are being constructed -- one from
\nPulogadung in East Jakarta to Harmoni in Central Jakarta and the
\nother from Harmoni to Kalideres in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The city administration plans to build four corridors next
\nyear. Overall, it plans to have in place a network of 14 busway
\ncorridors across the capital by 2010.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso preferred to first develop the busway rather
\nthan the MRT because it was far cheaper than the MRT. For
\nexample, the city has allocated $87.67 million to develop four
\nbusway corridors.<\/p>\n
In cooperation with a private company, the city is also now
\nconstructing two monorail lines, but due to financial problems
\nthe projects seem to have stalled. The private company has met
\ndifficulties convincing financial institutions to lend capital.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has already four railway commuter lines, connecting
\nthe capital with its satellite cities -- Bogor, Depok, Bekasi,
\nTangerang and Serpong.<\/p>\n
Operated by state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia
\n(KAI), the commuter lines serve around 500,000 travelers every
\nday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-readies-funds-for-mrt-project-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}