Pulo Gebang bus terminal needs another Rp 200 billion<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration estimated that it would need another
\nRp 200 billion (US$21.3 million) to complete the long-delayed
\nconstruction of the Pulo Gebang bus terminal in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
City Secretary Ritola Tasmaya said on Saturday that the money
\nwould be taken from the 2005 city budget.<\/p>\n
\"The city budget will finance the project, although we will
\nkeep open the possibility for private investors to take over the
\nfinancing,\" Ritola said.<\/p>\n
Ritola asserted that there would be no more delays in the
\nconstruction of the bus terminal which had been expected to be
\noperational by 2001.<\/p>\n
\"Transportation projects -- which will heavily affect the
\npublic -- are a top priority of the administration. That's why we
\nwill prioritize this project in the upcoming budget,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The new terminal will be operational by the middle of 2006.\"<\/p>\n
Head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency Rustam Effendy
\nSidabutar said earlier that Governor Sutiyoso had told him to
\nseek private investors to help in the financing of the project.<\/p>\n
\"The Governor has said that the many transportation projects
\nin the city have already absorbed a large portion of the city
\nbudget, so he wanted to invite private companies to fund this
\nproject. However, thus far, we have not received any proposals,\"
\nRustam said.<\/p>\n
To date, the administration has spent Rp 50 billion on the
\nacquisition of 9 hectares of land in 2002 which was formerly
\nowned by state housing developer Perumnas.<\/p>\n
The project, which is meant to replace the overcrowded
\nPulogadung terminal, has become mired in controversy since
\nSutiyoso in 2001 revoked a 1990 gubernatorial decree on the
\nconstruction of the terminal at an area close to the East Jakarta
\nmunicipality office.<\/p>\n
At that time, the councillors opposed Sutiyoso's decision to
\nmove the location to Perumnas' property because the city had to
\nspend another Rp 12 billion to reclaim the swampy land, and the
\nlocation is only 500 meters away from a military arsenal.<\/p>\n
For those reasons, the councillors deducted Rp 13 billion from
\nthe 2003 budget allocated to acquire more land for the terminal
\nand declined the administration's proposed fund for the project
\nin the 2004 budget.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso argued that the location was safe thanks to the
\nongoing East Flood Canal project, which would separate the
\nterminal from the military arsenal.<\/p>\n
If or when Pulo Gebang bus terminal becomes operational, the
\n3.5-hectare Pulogadung terminal will cease its role as an
\nintercity bus terminal.<\/p>\n
The new terminal, which has direct access to the Cakung-
\nCilincing toll road, would be able to accommodate at least 3,000
\nJakarta buses and 800 intercity buses.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pulo-gebang-bus-terminal-needs-another-rp-200-billion-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}