Japan to help finance Jakarta MRT<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Japan has expressed readiness to help development of the mass
\nrapid transportation (MRT) project in Jakarta, which is expected
\nto take a total investment of US$780 million.<\/p>\n
\"Japan has agreed to provide 70 percent to 80 percent of the
\ntotal investment,\" Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa said
\nafter a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The state-run Antara news agency quoted the transportation
\nminister as explaining that the loan must be returned within 40
\nyears.<\/p>\n
\"Public transportation has become a high priority for both the
\ncentral government and for the Jakarta city administration,\" said
\nHatta.<\/p>\n
Present at the meeting were Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and
\nPublic Housing Minister M. Yusuf Ashari.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said development of the MRT would include a subway, a
\nmonorail, and expansion of the busway network with the goal of
\nreducing the use of private cars, Sutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
In mid-May, the Jakarta city administration signed an
\nagreement with a foreign-backed consortium to build a 27-
\nkilometer-monorail worth at $600 million, aimed at easing the
\ncapital's traffic and chronic pollution.<\/p>\n
The project, however, has been on and off for a while due to
\namong others financing problems and flaws in the master plan,
\nwhich also seems to be subject to change.<\/p>\n
Early this year, authorities inaugurated new bus lanes with
\nluxury buses. The city administration now plans to contract new
\nbusway lanes linking Pulo Gadung in East Jakarta and the National
\nMonument in Central Jakarta, and Pulo Gadung and Kalideres in
\nWest Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Observers, however, say many commuters still prefer to sit in
\ntheir cars in traffic jams rather than take these luxury buses or
\ntrains.<\/p>\n
Jakarta -- a city of about 11 million people -- has some of
\nthe worst traffic in Asia.<\/p>\n
Traffic-related pollution has been blamed for the rise in
\nrespiratory illnesses, and surveys show Jakarta's children have
\ndangerous levels of lead in their blood due to exhaust fumes.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-to-help-finance-jakarta-mrt-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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