Plan to build triple-tier transit system welcomed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City councilors have hailed the plan to push
\nahead with the long-awaited construction of the triple-tier
\ntransit system, linking Bintaro in South Jakarta and Kota in West
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The councilors told The Jakarta Post Saturday that the
\nproject, scheduled to start this week, was badly needed to reduce
\ntraffic congestion.<\/p>\n
\"I think the project is very positive. This city badly needs
\nmass, rapid transportation to support people's mobility. And
\nbecause private sectors are involved... I believe they have
\ncalculated the profit and loss,\" Lukman Mokoginta of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party faction said.<\/p>\n
\"The project is feasible despite monetary woes because it has
\nto do with mass transportation. People certainly need it. They
\nare looking forward to using it... so I think this project will
\nsoon break even.\"<\/p>\n
Lukman said it was vital for the developer to complete an
\nenvironmental impact study before proceeding with the project.<\/p>\n
\"This study is needed because the project will certainly have
\nan environmental impact. We don't want something bad to happen in
\nthe future.\"<\/p>\n
Achmad Suaidy, chairman of the United Development Party
\nfaction, said the project must be dedicated to serving the
\npublic's needs.<\/p>\n
\"I strongly support the effort to cure Jakarta's traffic
\nproblems. This project is one of the best alternatives. It would
\nalso open up an opportunity for unemployed construction workers
\nto join the project.\"<\/p>\n
He urged the developer to tread carefully in each stage of the
\nproject's construction.<\/p>\n
\"Sooner or later the project will need to conduct land
\nclearance. I hope the people who are moved from the area are
\ngiven proper compensation so it will avoid further conflict.\"<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso announced Thursday that the groundbreaking
\nceremony for the construction on the project would be conducted
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
The triple-tier transit system is among the few projects in
\nthe city which was not been postponed or rescheduled by the
\ndevelopers due to the currency crisis.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto's eldest daughter, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana
\npopularly knows as Mbak Tutut -- who owns the diverse Citra Group
\nwhich will oversee the project -- said 500 workers would be
\ninvolved in the first stage of construction. They would be taken
\nfrom the labor-intensive program.<\/p>\n
PT Citramoda Margakencana Persada -- a joint-venture company
\ncomprising Tutut's PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, the state
\nrailway company (Perumka) and state-owned highway corporation PT
\nJasa Marga -- is to develop the Rp 6.2 trillion project.<\/p>\n
The system is expected to begin operation in 2001.<\/p>\n
Under the plan, the triple-tier system will consist of 23.65
\nkilometers of toll roads and 22km of light-rail tracks with 20
\nstops. There are to be four main stations -- Ulujami, Kebayoran
\nLama and Blok M, all in South Jakarta, and Kota -- and 16
\nsecondary ones.<\/p>\n
The construction of the triple-tier transit system has been
\ndelayed several times.<\/p>\n
In February last year, Bambang Soeroso, head of the project,
\nsaid its construction was expected to start in June, but was
\nlater postponed until late 1997.<\/p>\n
Last December, Bambang announced a new schedule, saying the
\nconstruction would be delayed for another two months because the
\ncompany faced difficulties finding workers ahead of the Idul
\nFitri holiday.<\/p>\n
Corporate secretary of Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada Fariza
\nIrawadi, speaking on behalf of Citra Moda Margakencana Persada,
\nsaid it made sense to go ahead with the project despite the
\nnation's monetary woes.<\/p>\n
\"For four years we have been planning the project. It is a
\nloss for us if the project is delayed. Jakarta has no sufficient
\nsystem of mass, rapid transportation and, in fact, this city
\nneeds it badly.\"<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the construction of roads increases on average 4
\npercent per year, while the number of cars grows 14 percent per
\nyear.<\/p>\n
\"So just imagine how crowded Jakarta is.\"<\/p>\n
He said Mbak Tutut's decision to continue this project was
\nexpected to generate investor trust.<\/p>\n
\"This project is not being pulled out of thin air... we have
\nto work hard for it. Hopefully the project can help foster a
\nbetter national economic condition.\"<\/p>\n
The project is expected to utilize 10,000 construction
\nworkers, with the first stage concentrating on the construction
\nof the light-rail transit system.<\/p>\n
\"I believe this is also a good opportunity to hire unemployed
\nworkers in a kind of labor-intensive program,\" Fariza said.<\/p>\n
Under the plan, Citra Moda has proposed that the foreign
\ncompanies supplying the light-rail transit (LRT) system cooperate
\nwith PT Inka, a state-owned rolling stock producer.<\/p>\n
\"It is very important that we get a good price on imported
\nmaterials for the LRT,\" Fariza said. \"PT Inka has extensive
\nexperience in providing rolling stocks for Perumka.\"<\/p>\n
For its signaling system, state-owned electronic producer PT
\nLEN and PT Barata Indonesia, a state-owned hardware, tool and
\nequipment supplier, will be joining the project, he added.<\/p>\n
\"As for the budget, we are avoiding the use of foreign loans,
\nbecause it will only be an additional burden during this
\nturbulent time. Currently we are using the equity portion and
\nwill encourage more investors to join the project.\"<\/p>\n
When asked about reports that some plants on land in Bendi,
\nSouth Jakarta, near the planned project, were pulled out, Fariza
\nsaid the plants were moved due to construction work.<\/p>\n
\"But we have replaced the plants and already provided another
\nplot,\" he said, refusing to elaborate further.<\/p>\n
Reports said the plants were under the supervision of the City
\nPark Agency as part of a regreening campaign. (edt)<\/p>",
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