Developers urged to build roads

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)