Land problems delay road construction<\/p>\n
Wahyuana, Bekasi<\/p>\n
The original intention of toll road developer PT Jasa Marga to
\ncomplete the eastern part of the megaproject Jakarta Outer Ring
\nRoad (JORR) by the end of this year appears to be facing another
\ndelay, as landowners have rejected the compensation on offer.<\/p>\n
Seven residents of Kebantenan village, whose land is affected
\nby the project, have claimed they were never asked to discuss the
\nmatter of compensation.<\/p>\n
\"Only land speculators came to us,\" said Taimin, whose 250-
\nsquare meter (sq m) site will be used by Jasa Marga to
\naccommodate the toll gate connecting Jatiasih and Hankam Raya.<\/p>\n
Jasa Marga spokesman Zuhdi Saragih said over the weekend that
\nthe land acquisition issue had reached a stalemate.<\/p>\n
\"No compromise has been reached on the land price. The Bekasi
\nmunicipality issued a letter in April, saying that the price of
\nthe land was Rp 1.3 million (US$144) per square meter, which is
\ntoo expensive for us. We offered them (the landowners) Rp 500,000
\nand Rp 800,000 per square meter,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"This is in the public interest, so we hope it will be
\nprioritized by the municipality.\"<\/p>\n
To overcome land acquisition problems, the government has set
\nup a special team comprising officials from Bekasi Prosecutor's
\nOffice, the National Land Agency (BPN), the police, Bekasi
\nPlanning Agency, Bekasi Development Planning Board (Bappeda) and
\nBekasi Environmental Agency, and it is chaired by Bekasi Mayor
\nAhmad Zurfaih.<\/p>\n
Ahmad suggested Jasa Marga renegotiate with the landowners,
\nfollowing the company's objection to the land price set by his
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
He also suggested the operator prioritize completion of the
\ntoll road construction in areas that faced no land acquisition
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"We welcome the toll road project because it will help ease
\ntraffic jams in Bekasi,\" said Budi, whose 260sq m site would also
\nbe affected.<\/p>\n
\"We are simply seeking fair compensation. If landowners in
\nBambu Apus can get Rp 1.9 million per sq m, we hope we can get Rp
\n1.5 million per sq m,\" said Taimin.<\/p>\n
Jasa Marga has been competing the four-kilometer section from
\nHankam Raya to Jati Asih and another four-kilometer section from
\nJati Asih to Cikunir.<\/p>\n
The Rp 370 billion toll road is designed to accommodate around
\n20,000 vehicles per day.<\/p>\n
The JORR project was planned in the early 1990s to deal with
\nchronic traffic congestion in Jakarta. Once completed, the road
\nwill connect Tangerang, Kebon Jeruk, Ulujami, Pondok Pinang,
\nJagorawi, Cikunir, Cakung, Cilincing and Tanjung Priok. The
\nproject was halted due to the monetary crisis that hit the
\ncountry in late-1997.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/land-problems-delay-road-construction-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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