Council delays road projects

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

The Bogor Council has delayed approval for an extension of the Cianteun ring road in Pamijahan district and the construction of a bus terminal in Cileungsi.

The decision was made during a plenary session on Wednesday after the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction questioned some of the expenses in the administration's projects.

The Cianteun ring road project would cost the city Rp 15.7 billion (US$1.63 million) and the terminal project Rp 7.8 billion.

"We support both projects, which are needed by the public, but the administration has yet to provide details of the plans. We demand the Council speaker give officials more time to provide us with explanations and financial analyses of both projects before we make any decision," said councillor Fikri Hudi Oktiarwan, who is also chairman of Council Commission C on financial affairs.

Four other factions in the council, the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Democratic Party, were prepared to sign off on the projects.

However, after a 30 minute break all of the factions agreed to delay the decision.

"All of Council members have agreed to hold off on approving the projects until the extra material we have requested is provided to us," Council Speaker Rahmat Yasin said.

Fikri said the administration only submitted documents on the tender for the Cianteun project on Tuesday afternoon.

"We need an explanation of the Rp 1.6 billion that has been budgeted for miscellaneous expenses and the Rp 2 billion to cement nearly all of the bus terminal even though the blueprint shows only two-thirds of the area will be cemented," he said.

The administration has introduced a number of vital projects besides the ring road and bus terminal, such as the construction of the Cileungsi and Leuwiliang hospitals, which will cost the city Rp 41 billion each.