Bogor expert upset over research project

BOGOR (JP): A local transportation expert questioned on Saturday the Bogor administration's decision to hire a Bandung- based consulting firm, PT Diagus Sinar Konsultindo (DSR), to conduct research on the pattern of city transportation management.

"The bidding procedure wasn't transparent. There are many transportation experts here, but why did the city administration decide to hire a Bandung-based firm?" a member of the Bogor branch of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), Zulfikar, questioned.

"The research will be biased because traffic problems are not only related to technical problems but also to psychological ones. We can question the performance of traffic police officers and officials of the Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) or motorists' driving habits," he added.

Zulfikar also suggested the city authorities invite locals to participate in the research to get a better result.

"MTI Bogor has conducted traffic research and has already obtained the results of the research. We have also submitted it to the administration," Zulfikar said without giving any further information.

"The administration failed to follow the recommendation," he added.

Separately, an official at the local Land Transportation Agency said the project was granted to the firm following standard bidding procedure.

"There were three bidders for the project, but PT DSR won it through a competitive and transparent procedure," said the official, Dedy Sutiadi, while admitting the research was limited only to traffic management and public transportation.

"Actually, the agency has proposed integrated research but the fund is limited. We have to set priorities then," he said. (21/nvn)