Developers urged to build roads

JAKARTA (JP): Developers of housing complexes in areas around Jakarta are being urged to participate in building roads between the city and its outskirts.

Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais said yesterday the municipality does not have enough funds to provide roads.

He said the municipality has built some roads in boundary areas in West Java, such as Ciledug in Tangerang, but added that developers should not rely on the government.

"It's not our main plan (to build roads outside the city) because the areas are located in West Java. It would be better if the local authority requires developers to build the facilities," Rais said.

He was commenting on requests from the West Java authorities and the Greater Jakarta Development Board that Jakarta help fund badly needed road expansion in border areas.

For example, in Cinere, Bogor and Ciledug and Ciputat in Tangerang, congestion is a daily occurrence during rush hour.

The requests for the city's help, particularly to fund necessary land compensation for residents affected by the road projects, were first forwarded in 1994.

Rais said the city has already suggested that developers be involved in building roads, which has not met with significant response.

Changes in development from small villages to large residential areas have not been followed by the development of roads leading to the city.

For instance, Cinere -- a quiet village turned into a residential area beginning in 1973 -- had a total of 20,000 homes built by several developers by 1994.

The companies included PT Megapolitan Development Corporation and PT Metropolitan Kencana.

The deputy governor said if developers were involved, this would ease much of the provincial authority's burden. The policy has already been implemented in Jakarta, he said.

He said the city will always help to build the facilities "as long as the areas have an economic benefit to Jakarta".

Jakarta's interest in building roads, he said, is to encourage people to stay where they are and not add to the city's population.

He said it is enough that they work in the city during the day. The city's population reaches 10 million during the day and eight million at night. (yns)