City, investors at odds on monorail route

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City administration and monorail investors are still discussing the route of the semi-mass transportation system even though construction is expected to begin in December.

To attract more interest in the scheme investors argued that the monorail would not only transport commuters between Bekasi, Jakarta and Tangerang but also to other areas of the city.

"If the monorail only takes passengers from Bekasi and Tangerang to Jakarta it will be less able to reduce traffic congestion within the city," said Ruslan Diwirjo, chief executive officer of PT Indonesian Transit Central (ITC).

ITC was formed to undertake the development of the monorail project. The consortium is made up of Malaysian firm M Trans Holding and three local companies, PT Adhi Karya, Global Profex Synergy and Radiant Utama.

The administration had proposed a 22.5-kilometer route running from Bekasi to Jakarta and alongside Jl. Casablanca to Tangerang.

But investors have suggested that the monorail run from East to West passing through Pondok Kopi, Kampung Melayu, Casablanca, Senayan, Kebon Jeruk, Kedoya, Daan Mogot and Tangerang.

Ruslan said that the route was not fixed yet as it needed to be discussed with relevant officials in the administration.

The investor's concession is also being negotiated with the administration.

Ruslan said that investors were ready to disburse Rp 3.28 trillion (US$386 million) into the first stages of the project, including the construction of stations.