City has yet to receive Manggarai project proposal
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)