Fauzi Bowo insists water transportation not feasible
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jakarta deputy governor Fauzi Bowo reiterated that the planned water transportation link from Manggarai, South Jakarta, to Karet, Central Jakarta, via the West Flood Canal was simply not feasible due to the high cost and projected low demand.
"The project is too costly ... the cost of constructing the infrastructure will not be offset by the estimated revenue obtained from the operation," Fauzi told The Jakarta Post at City Hall on Tuesday.
Fauzi, a doctor in civil engineering from Kaiserlautern University, Germany, expressed doubt that the technology for water buses would be immediately available, explaining that the technology was "very sophisticated".
Fauzi added that the plan could only work by installing locks between the river and sluices to enable boats to pass along the shallow river in safety. The sluice gates had also to ensure a stable and adequate water volume, he added.
He added that the route was too short, which would mean there would be too few people who might wish to use it.
"Commuters can even reach points along the route on foot," he said jokingly.
His personal opinion contradicted the optimism expressed by Governor Sutiyoso and officials from the Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure on the establishment of an alternative transportation system via the West and East Flood Canals.
Bambang Sucipto Yuwono, the project director of Ciliwung to Cisadane flood mitigation at the ministry, said on Monday that the ministry would prioritize the construction of the seven- kilometer (km) route from Manggarai to Karet for the first phase.
"In future, we shall carry out a similar project along other parts, stretching for the total 17-km route from Manggarai to Kapuk Muara, North Jakarta," Bambang was quoted on Monday as saying by Warta Kota daily.
Bambang added that the project would follow by raising low bridges along the route to make way for roofed boats that might be used in the project.
Currently, the Jakarta Public Works Agency, in cooperation with the ministry, had already begun dredging and constructing concrete structures along the banks of the West Flood Canal.
The project includes the construction of three river stations at Manggarai, Jl. Sudirman (Dukuh Atas) and Karet, which are to be integrated with the railway and busway system on Jl. Sudirman.
Transportation analysts have already raised eyebrows about the feasibility of the river transportation system.
Their pessimism is based mainly on the state of Jakarta's rivers, which are shallow and function mostly as dumps for people living along the riverbanks.
Rivers were integrated into the city transportation system in Bylaw No. 12/2003 on transportation.