Development projects rescheduled

JAKARTA (JP): The city will reschedule some of its projects following the government's decision to cut budget spending in the wake of the currency and stock market crisis, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said.

The projects, handled or supervised by the city administration, will either be postponed or canceled, Surjadi said after a meeting with officials from the Development Planning Board yesterday.

"The city has to evaluate the 1997/1998 budget. We can't just push ahead with all the projects. The budget is based on predictions and if we overstep the mark then, of course, we have to fix it," the outgoing governor said.

He declined to indicate the monetary values and names of the projects to be rescheduled.

Deputy Governor of Economic and Development Affairs, Tb. M. Rais, estimated that the rescheduled projects accounted for Rp 100 billion (US$33.5 million) of the city's Rp 3.36 trillion budget in the 1997/1998 fiscal year.

"I can't give you further details because it is still under review," he said.

According to Surjadi, who will end his term early next month, the city administration has already evaluated its projects.

"The bottom line is there are projects that will be postponed or even canceled," Surjadi said. "Anything will be possible."

Basically, the city will put priority on projects relating to public interests, he said.

Among the projects on the priority list are the construction of flyovers, which were badly needed to overcome the city's chronic traffic problems, he said.

"The flyover projects are the city's priority and the municipality will try its best to keep them running."

The administration recently completed construction on 23 of the 25 flyovers planned for the 1992/1997 term.

For the 1998/2003 period, the city plans to construct another 46 flyovers and underpasses.

The city's public works agency will develop 23 of the new flyovers, with another 11 to be completed in cooperation with private investors, and the Ministry of Public Works' directorate general of highways will be responsible for the remaining 12.

Other projects

When asked whether the city's would reschedule construction of the new South Jakarta mayoralty office on the Blok P cemetery site, Surjadi said: "The plan remains but it will be developed depending on the city's budget."

The administration will also review the renovation plan for the Kramat Jati market in East Jakarta, which will be funded by a private firm under the city's supervision, he said.

"The investor is also facing a monetary crisis."

Surjadi said the transit system connecting Bintaro in South Jakarta to downtown Kota in West Jakarta will also be reassessed.

"The three-tier transit system will be constructed by private investors but the city will surely reevaluate this project too."

In response to the city's plan, councilor Ali Wongso H. Sinaga said that the city should base its analysis on the public's needs.

"The evaluation should be based on the scale of priorities, such as projects to improve services and to solve traffic problems."

He urged the municipality to consult with city councilors to prevent disputes in the future.

"The evaluation also means there will be an evaluation of the city's budget." (07/ste)