City has yet to receive Manggarai project proposal

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais said yesterday that the administration has yet to receive the proposal for the Manggarai terminal project. He was reacting to reports quoting Ciputra, a member of the consortium in charge of the huge project.

M. Rais said yesterday that neither the master-plan nor the proposal for the integrated public transportation terminal project in Manggarai, South Jakarta, has been submitted to the administration.

He also said that the consortium has never contacted the administration to discuss the project.

"Since the project was announced last year, the consortium has never contacted us. It's a surprise for the administration if the consortium plans to build the terminal next year," Rais said.

On Saturday, Ciputra, a founder of PT Pembangunan Jaya, consortium member, told reporters that he hoped the project would begin next year.

Asked whether the project is in line with the city planning, Rais said it is difficult for the city administration to examine this aspect without the detailed plan.

"It is true that we are reviewing the city planning but it does not necessarily mean we are changing the existing conditions," he said.

Ciputra said that the city administration has given its approval for the US$285 million project. Approvals from the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Transportation, the municipality and the Ministry of Agriculture have also been obtained, he said.

However, Ciputra admitted that various permits are still needed, including municipality permits to build a light railway system.

Observers and residents of Manggarai have also been surprised by Ciputra's statements. "If such a huge project is to start next year, how come land acquisition has yet to start?," an expert on urban affairs who requested anonymity said.

Thousands of families may be relocated to make way for the project, which will need around 124 hectares. Only 72 hectares of the area needed is owned by the state-owned railway company, the remaining 54 hectares belonging to the residents. So eviction is likely.

Ciputra said on Saturday that eviction of local inhabitants will, if possible, be avoided.

The terminal is to integrate, among other things, a railway station with 22 tracks and 4 underground express railway tracks, as well as an intercity and a city bus terminal. Shopping centers and apartments are also planned in the terminal complex. The data was made public after Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the consortium's chairperson, accompanied by Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto, presented the plan to President Soeharto last year.

The project, it is feared, will go against the city's policies as the city administration has been moving intercity bus terminals to city outskirts. (yns)