Consortium formed for Manggarai bus station

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said the ministry has selected a consortium of seven companies to construct the Rp 7 billion (US$3.2 million) Manggarai integrated station in South Jakarta.

Haryanto said yesterday at a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) that the seven companies include PT Citra Lamtoro Gung and PT Humpuss as well as Mitraguna Group, Ciputra Group, Bukaka Group, PT Suhamtabi and PD Sarana Pembangunan Jaya.

"The development of the terminal is aimed at improving services to the public and alleviating traffic congestion in the city," he said, adding that the proposal will soon be submitted to the Ministry of Finance before being sent to President Soeharto for approval.

Earlier reports said that the current Manggarai bus terminal would be enlarged into a 72-hectare integrated four-story terminal, serving trains, inter-city buses and taxis.

Department stores, hotels and office buildings will also be developed within the terminal for the convenience of passengers.

The development of the terminal, billed to be the biggest integrated terminal in Indonesia, is expected to start next year.

Haryanto once promised that there would be no evictions in connection with the construction of the project because it will be built in an area owned by Perumka, the state-owned railway company, which in return will get a 100-hectare plot in Karawang, West Java.

Perumka currently has a repair shop on the 72-hectare plot.(09)