'Three-level transit system will not contradict subway'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Following announcements that a proposed subway
\nhas been given the green light by the government, a developer
\nplanning to build a three-level transit system said his company
\nstill intends to start the project on April 21.<\/p>\n
Bambang Soeroso, chief executive officer of the Citra Group,
\nsaid Saturday the project, to include a toll road and light rail
\ntransit, "is not in contradiction to the subway".<\/p>\n
The project, to be developed by PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada
\nand Group, has secured permits from the Ministry of
\nTransportation and Ministry of Public Works. The company, whose
\ndirector is Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, set April 21 as its starting
\ndate, which falls on the commemoration date of national heroine
\nR.A. Kartini.<\/p>\n
"We are still completing the formation of joint ventures with
\n(state-owned railway company) PT Perumka and Jasa Marga (road
\nauthority under Ministry of Public Works)," Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Responding to fears of the impact of the possible simultaneous
\nconstruction of two large transit projects, Bambang said building
\nthe Rp 5.8 trillion three-level transit system would not disrupt
\ntraffic.<\/p>\n
Even if the subway, to be funded by a consortium under
\nbusinessman Aburizal Bakrie, starts construction in June, the
\nroutes were largely different, Bambang said. The subway is
\nplanned from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota.<\/p>\n
The light rail transit system is to be built above the
\nexisting Kebayoran Lama-Kota train route.<\/p>\n
So far, the planned three-level transit system is still in the
\nfield-survey stage, for which city permits were secured January.<\/p>\n
Aburizal said Wednesday the US$2.2 billion subway project
\ncould start on June 1.<\/p>\n
On coordination with the city, the Citra Group is intensifying
\napproaches, Bambang said. One source said Deputy Governor for
\nEconomic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais urged the company to
\nincrease coordination with the city so that construction would
\nnot disturb public activities.<\/p>\n
The light-transit system is planned to have 22 stops, with a
\ncapacity of 40,000 passengers per hour and parking spaces at
\nstations. Fares will be Rp 1,800 to Rp 2,000.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the challenges, Bambang cited Kuala Lumpur's
\nrecent experience with its elevated railway. "The largest
\nobstacle would be cultural instead of technical because people
\nwould have to get used to using the system," he said.<\/p>\n
Bambang said he would reveal other investors soon. He added
\nthe city has not requested involvement in the project. The subway
\nproposal does includes shares for the municipality.<\/p>\n
Earlier, city officials and Aburizal had said the subway
\nconstruction had to wait for a presidential decree to clarify the
\ncity's role in a mass transit project.<\/p>\n
But after Wednesday's meeting of investors, city officials and
\nministers, Aburizal said the project would follow the
\nrequirements of a presidential decree if it was necessary, and
\nwould go ahead if it was not. State Minister of Research and
\nTechnology B.J. Habibie, Minister of Transportation Haryanto
\nDhanutirto, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar and city
\nofficials, would not comment. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-level-transit-system-will-not-contradict-subway-1447893297",
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