Firm set up to build 3-tier transit system

JAKARTA (JP): A joint venture was set up yesterday to build a Rp 6.05 trillion (US$2.49 billion) three-level transit system from Bintaro in South Jakarta to downtown Kota starting in December.

The company, PT Citramoda Margakencana Persada, is a joint venture between PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, the state-owned railway company Perumka and the state-owned highway corporation PT Jasa Marga.

"The project will start in December in Bintaro," Bambang Soeroso, chief executive officer of the Citra Group, said.

He said the project was a combination of elevated toll road, light rail transit and artery roads. It would finish within four years and begin operating by 2001, he said.

"We propose a fare of Rp 1,800 for the light rail transit, and Rp 6,500 to Rp 10,000 for toll road," Bambang said.

He said the company proposed a concession period of 50 years, excluding the four-year construction time.

He had earlier said the project would begin yesterday (April 21), with site preparation and the mobilization of equipment. The ground breaking was to begin in June.

Yesterday's signing ceremony was attended by Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, president of the Citra Group, Jasa Marga's president director Maryadi Darmokumoro, Perumka's director Dhani Widjanarko, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, and several cabinet ministers, including Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto.

Bambang said the re-evaluation study, the basic design, and the inventory of land and property affected by the project were not yet finished.

Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, known as mbak Tutut, said many foreign and local investors had shown interest in the project and offered loans.

Bambang said 40 percent of the finance would come from local banks, both private and state-owned, and 60 percent from overseas. "We haven't made a decision. We are still analyzing the offers," he said.

Surjadi said construction should consider the public. "It should not interrupt people's daily activities," he said.

Bambang gave his assurance that the project would cause as few interruptions as possible. "We also intend to minimize land appropriation," he said.

The project is planned in stages. The first will develop an integrated elevated toll road and light rail train from Jakarta's Outer Ring Road W2 to Tanah Abang, and a light rail transit from Pondok Ranji to Jakarta's Outer Ring Road W2.

Next, an integrated toll road and light rail train will connect Tanah Abang to Kota and Jakarta's Outer Ring Road section S/Pangeran Antasari to Gelora. A light rail transit will connect Kebayoran Lama to Blok M.

The project will build 23.65 kilometers of toll road and 22 kilometers of light rail transit. The transit will have 20 stops: four main stations and 16 small ones.

The four main stations are in Ulu Jami, Kebayoran Lama, Blok M -- all in South Jakarta, and Kota.

The light rail transit will ply two routes: Bintaro-Kebayoran Lama-Kota and Bintaro-Kebayoran Lama-Blok M-Kebayoran Lama-Kota. The light rail transit is designed to carry 12,000 passengers an hour.

A subway project is also being planned to ease the city's traffic.

Bambang said the light rail transit would support the subway because it would operate as a feeder service from Bintaro- Kebayoran Lama-Blok M to the subway and it would integrate with the Manggarai integrated terminal project.

The $1.5 billion subway project was to have started in April. The 14.5 kilometer Mass Rapid Transit system will connect Blok M in South Jakarta and downtown Kota. (ste)