Ciputat flyover project to continues
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Despite opposition from traders who are refusing to vacate their land, the Tangerang regental administration says it will go ahead with the Ciputat flyover project to ease chronic traffic congestion around the Ciputat Market.
Regent Ismet Iskandar argued that only a small number of traders were opposed to the project, which was originally scheduled to start last January.
"Only 20 out of 120 land owners rejected the land compensation offered by the administration," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Most buildings on Jl. Dewi Sartika and Jl. Juanda that would be affected by the flyover project have already been demolished.
The Tangerang administration offered compensation of Rp 1.4 million per square meter for land affected by the 800-meter project that stretches from the Ramayana department store on Jl. Dewi Sartika to the gasoline station on Jl. Juanda.
The flyover, which is expected to ease chronic traffic jams around the Ciputat Market, will be financed by the central government in cooperation with a Japanese consortium.
According to Regent Ismet, the administration had spent Rp 125 billion from the 2004 budget and another Rp 25 billion from the 2205 budget for land clearance.
Ciputat district head Muhamad said on Saturday that the flyover construction would start in November.
He said that the Ministry of Public Works had confirmed in writing that the construction of the much-needed flyover would not be postponed for any reason.
Muhamad, who leads a team to clear the land, said that the administration had originally planned to hold the groundbreaking ceremony last Jan. 1, but it had to be postponed as dozens of traders on Jl. Dewi Sartika and Jl. Juanda had refused to vacate their buildings.
He said that most buildings affected for the project in the area had been voluntarily demolished by their owners, who have agreed to take the compensation offered by the administration.
"As you see, we have started the first phase of the work by widening Jl. Dewi Sartika and we have coordinated with the state electricity company, Telkom and Tirta Terta Rahardja Tap Water Company to remove electric poles, telephone cables and water pipes," he said.
However, a number of land owners and traders grouped in the Ciputat Land Owners and Traders Union (PPTP) remained opposed to the administration's plan to build the flyover.
"We still oppose the construction of the Ciputat flyover that will evict us from our business places," said PPTP secretary M. Syamsudin.
He said the construction of the flyover disrupted their businesses, and apart from that the project would be financed with foreign loans that will in turn burden the public purse.
"We will immediately urge Regent Ismet Iskandar to cancel his plan to build the flyover," he added.