MRT projects to start next year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Public Works yesterday announced
\nthat the oft-delayed urban Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project,
\nwhich will link Blok M in South Jakarta with the Kota area in
\nWest Jakarta, will begin next year.<\/p>\n
Ruslan Diwiryo, the ministry's secretary general, said that
\nthe government will also build what he called an East-West MRT
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
The East-West corridor, which will pass Grogol in West
\nJakarta, the National Monument in Central Jakarta and Jl.
\nPramuka, East Jakarta, will be 40 kilometers long while the
\nNorth-South corridor will cover 20 kilometers.<\/p>\n
Ruslan said the East-West corridor is expected to be completed
\nwithin 6 years, and the North-South section within three years.<\/p>\n
He said the MRT projects should receive the high priority they
\ndeserve as a means of solving the city's chronic traffic problems
\nor else Jakarta will rival Bangkok in terms of traffic
\ncongestion.<\/p>\n
\"The MRT system is badly needed. If it's not built soon,
\ntraffic problems in Jakarta will become worse, just like in
\nBangkok. And we don't want that to happen,\" Ruslan said.<\/p>\n
When asked about the government's previous refusals of
\nproposals by private investors to build a light train system
\nbetween Blok M and Kota, Ruslan said the city currently needs a
\nwest to east link as well.<\/p>\n
\"It's in line with the city's master plan,\" Ruslan said.<\/p>\n
Ruslan said the government expects the Agency for the
\nAssessment and Application of Technology and Japan International
\nCooperation Agency (JICA) to submit recommendations on the best
\nMRT system as soon as possible so that the project can be started
\nnext year,<\/p>\n
\"It could be a combination of bus and heavy rail or bus and
\nlight rail system,\" Ruslan said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Ruslan said that he personally prefers a light
\nrail system because it is more flexible and easier to construct.<\/p>\n
Ruslan said the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of
\nPublic Works, the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas),
\nthe City Administration, BPPT and related institutions have
\nresumed meetings about the project.<\/p>\n
He added that previous studies are being reviewed by a team
\nfrom BPPT in coordination with JICA.<\/p>\n
\"Now we have the support of JICA to review the results of all
\nprevious studies... And we hope that next year we can start the
\nproject,\" Ruslan said.<\/p>\n
Ery Chayaridipura, the chief of the Jakarta Development
\nPlanning Agency, said recently that 11 feasibility studies had
\nbeen conducted between 1972 and 1990 on the MRT project.
\nFeasibility studies on its technical design began last April,
\nwhile studies on financing schemes have not yet been made.<\/p>\n
Ery said that bidding for the mammoth project will begin next
\nyear with the bidding documents available next month. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mrt-projects-to-start-next-year-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}