City to get integrated passenger terminal
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Despite the decreasing trend of passengers using the Tanjung Priok seaport in North Jakarta, state-owned seaport operator PT Pelindo II is working together with city-owned property company Jakarta Propertindo to build an integrated passenger terminal in Ancol Timur, next to the current seaport, a report said.
"The feasibility study of the project concluded in January and now, we are currently seeking the best way to finance the project, which will be conducted in several phases," Jakarta Propertindo spokesman Suryadi told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.
The project is estimated to cost some Rp 300 billion to Rp 500 billion (US$33.7 million to $56.1 million) and includes reclaiming some 200 hectares of land from the sea.
The new integrated terminal would be equipped with other supporting facilities such as office towers and entertainment venues.
The move to construct an integrated terminal was apparently triggered by the fact that the seaport has been far from convenient.
"Indeed, the Tanjung Priok seaport has yet to meet the passengers' need for convenient facilities...but we are doing our best," spokesman of state-owned seaport operator PT Pelindo II, Sujarwo, told the Post.
"Most of the inconveniences are caused by the mixed use of the current port as both a cargo and passenger terminal," he said.
Sujarwo said the management had set up a new air-conditioned passenger terminal to improve facilities, but it is still within the same complex of the current terminal.
In addition to Tanjung Priok, Pelindo II manages 11 seaports in the eight provinces of Bangka Belitung, Banten, Bengkulu, Jakarta, Lampung, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan and West Sumatra.
Meanwhile, seaports in other provinces are managed by three other seaport operators: Pelindo I, Pelindo III and Pelindo IV.
In 2002, Tanjung Priok handled some 1.42 million passengers, a decrease from 2001's figure of 1.71 million passengers.
While the number of passengers has declined due to fierce competition with cheap airfares, cargo traffic has shown an increasing trend with some 55.5 million tons of goods last year, compared to about 50.7 million tons in 2001.
Jakarta Propertindo's development manager, Lutfi Rahman, said the first phase of the project would commence next year, during which the consortium would reclaim some 100 hectares of land.
"The terminal itself would be some 40 hectares in area, while the remaining reclaimed land will be sold as ready-to-build land parcels," he said.
"We expect this first phase to be completed in 2006. We will start the second phase in 2007, reclaiming another 65 hectares and the last phase is expected to begin in 2012 with 43 hectares."
Suryadi and Rahmat said the city-owned company would deal only with the development of the property, while Pelindo II would still manage the passenger terminal.
Sujarwo said the cooperation between Pelindo II and the city administration to build an integrated passenger terminal set an example of mutually beneficial cooperation.
With the implementation last year of Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy, many regional administrations are demanding their right to manage all seaports nationwide, saying the seaports fell into their respective jurisdictions.
Cilegon mayoralty in Banten, for example, has issued a bylaw demanding a specific levy for seaport services, which had been rejected by Pelindo II management.
Tangerang regency even plans to build its own seaport in Tanjung Pasir village in cooperation with private investor.
Meanwhile, Governor Sutiyoso has repeatedly said he wanted the Tanjung Priok management to be transferred to his administration, arguing that it was so ordered by the regional autonomy law.
"Law No. 21/1992 on sea transportation stipulates that the seaport management is handled by a state-owned company, that is, Pelindo," Sujarwo defended.
"We, however, are allowed to cooperate with other parties in handling the seaport," he added.