Monorail work likely to worsen traffic<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The construction of a monorail project in the city is likely to
\ncause worsening traffic jams for the next two years and lead to
\nthe loss of more than 200 trees.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday attended a
\ngroundbreaking ceremony for the project. She urged Jakarta
\nGovernor Sutiyoso to seriously manage the project as it involved
\nhuge investment.<\/p>\n
The monorail construction is likely to further clog the
\nalready notoriously jammed main thoroughfares and the alternative
\nroads -- including Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio, Jl. KH Mas Mansyur, Jl.
\nGatot Subroto and Jl. Sudirman -- particularly during the
\nimplementation of the three-in-one policy from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
\nand from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Trees along the median strips on Jl. Gerbang Pemuda, Jl. Asia
\nAfrika and Jl. Rasuna Said will also be removed to make way for
\nthe monorail construction.<\/p>\n
"It is likely (trees will be felled) during the development of
\nthe project," said Ruslan Diwirjo, president director of PT
\nJakarta Monorail, a consortium responsible for the US$630 million
\n(Rp 5.9 trillion) mega-project.<\/p>\n
"Most of the trees to be removed are old angsana that have
\nfragile branches. We'll replace them with new ones," he said.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post observed there were 76 trees along the Jl.
\nGerbang Pemuda median strip alone. Each tree is about 20 meters
\ntall, higher than the planned height of the rail lines.<\/p>\n
PT Jakarta Monorail plans for the project say the elevated
\nrail lines will sit between six and 12-meters above the ground.<\/p>\n
About 900 construction piles will be erected along the 27-
\nkilometer monorail route.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Park Agency head Sarwo Handhayani said her agency
\nhad yet to calculate the number of trees affected by the project.<\/p>\n
"We'll try to minimize the number of trees that are cut down,"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
The monorail project will consist of two lines, the 14.8-
\nkilometer "green line", serving the capital's golden triangle
\narea of Kuningan, Sudirman and Senayan with 17 stations and the
\n12.2-kilometer "blue line", connecting Kampung Melayu and Roxy,
\nwith 13 stations.<\/p>\n
The green line is expected to begin operating in December 2006
\nand the blue line in early 2007.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration has required PT Jakarta Monorail to
\nbuild both lines simultaneously. This is likely to further
\naggravate traffic problems on the affected roads.<\/p>\n
The green line will be capable of transporting 8,500 people
\nper hour per direction, while the blue line will be able to ferry
\na maximum of 10,000 people. The fare for both lines will range
\nbetween Rp 3,500 and Rp 7,500.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/monorail-work-likely-to-worsen-traffic-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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