Surjadi hopes MRT done during his time<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja expressed hope that
\nthe oft-delayed urban Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project, which
\nwill link Blok M in South Jakarta with the Kota area in West
\nJakarta, will be completed while he is still in office.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the project will be finished while I am still serving
\nmy term of office,\" Surjadi told reporters on the steps of City
\nHall on Monday.<\/p>\n
Surjadi, who was installed as Jakarta governor in 1992, will
\nend his term of office in 1997.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Public Works announced on Aug. 8 that the
\ngovernment will build MRT projects linking Blok M and the Kota
\narea and West Jakarta and East Jakarta. The announcement did not
\nreveal where the East-West corridor will start or end.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the city administration will opt for an
\nunderground system or an elevated one, Surjadi said that it has
\nnot yet been decided.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said that numerous studies on MRT systems have been
\nconducted and that thus far the city administration will choose
\none which meets the following four points:<\/p>\n
First, it should not spoil the city's beauty; secondly, it
\nshould not be harmful to the environment; Third, the public
\nshould be able to afford the fares; Fourth, the construction
\nshould not cause traffic congestion.<\/p>\n
Referring to his meeting on the MRT project with Minister of
\nResearch and Technology B.J. Habibie last week, Surjadi said it
\nwas necessary to hold further discussions because no final
\ndecisions on the mode and financing have been made.<\/p>\n
The governor said that budgetary constraints are a major
\nhurdle to the mass transportation project.<\/p>\n
Despite the limited budget, Surjadi said, the city's chronic
\ntraffic jams must at any rate be solved as soon as possible or
\nelse the long-standing traffic problem will become enormously
\ndifficult to solve.<\/p>\n
One way of solving the problem, said Ery Chayaridipura, the
\nchairman of the City Development Planning Agency, is to cooperate
\nwith private companies in financing the project. (arf)<\/p>",
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