Bogor expert upset over research project

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)