Fauzi Bowo insists water transportation not feasible
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.