Ciputat flyover project to continues

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.