Bekasi to build new bus terminal

BEKASI: Bekasi councillors say they are considering a 50- hectare site in Mustikasari village as the location for a new bus terminal to replace the Bekasi Bus Terminal.

Council Commission D Chairman Muchtar Muhammad said on Tuesday that compared with the two other recommended sites -- Bojong Menteng and Pengasinan villages -- Mustikasari was closest to both the east and west toll gates.

He said that most of the Mustikasari area was vacant and therefore clearing it for development would be easy. The land price was also much cheaper than the other potential sites, he said.

He said clearing the land areas in the other recommended areas would be difficult as they comprised housing complexes and industrial areas with expensive land prices.

The current bus terminal in Bekasi only has a total area of 1.3 hectares that cannot accommodate the about 4,000 buses and minivans serving the city and its surrounds.

The Bekasi administration has yet to make a final decision. --Antara