BEKASI: The Jatiwaringin, Pondok Gede, road extension project, scheduled to start early next month to ease traffic congestion in the area, should be delayed because of a lack of funds, a councillor has said.

Deputy spokesman of the Bekasi council Rustam Effendi said last weekend that the project would cost Rp 14 billion, while the allocated budget was only Rp 5.5 billion.

The original budget covered compensation for the acquisition of land belonging to local residents. Residents had earlier agreed to receive compensation amounting to Rp 464,000 per square meter, but they were now asking for Rp 1.5 million per square meter, or an amount equal to the market price, Rustam said.

He said that the lack of funds should be covered by the 2001 budget revision so that the project could start late this year.

The administration, however, plans to go ahead with repairs to the road, which is seriously damaged, and has allocated Rp 250 million for the work.--Antara