Integrated underground duct system costly

Integrated underground duct system costly

JAKARTA (JP): The City Council's proposal for the development of an integrated system of water pipe, telephone and electricity cable ducts to prevent unnecessary excavation of streets would be impossible to implement due to the large cost involved, an official said yesterday.

H. Soeharto, head of the City Public Works Office, acknowledged that an integrated duct system is one of the most important things a modern city such as Jakarta should have. "But it is very expensive. The cost for the development of the system is projected to account for 60 percent of the budget set aside by the city administration for the Public Works Office," he said

He made the statements during a visit of members of the City Council Commission C to the Pondok Gede bridge project in East Jakarta.

"I know that many excavation works in the street causes inconvenience to the public, but it is not easy to coordinate the excavation works by the city-owned water company PAM Jaya, telecommunication company PT Telkom and electricity firm PLN."

Each office has its own different budget schedule and the result is that excavation projects often occur one after another at the same location, he said.

The proposal for the development of the integrated system was made by Lukman Mokoginta, a member of the City Council's Commission D, which is in charge of development affairs, last week.

Lukman said the city should conduct a feasibility study on the system first and if the result is satisfying, the project could be offered to investors.

Deputy Governor on Economics and Development Affair Tb. Rais also recently called for an end to the overlapping work and urged related offices to coordinate their excavation activities.

Chairman of the City Council Commission C on financial affairs H. Helmy AR. Syihab, however, supported Soeharto's reason, saying that it would be impossible for the city administration to build a duct system due to a lack of funds.

"We know that the duct system is very important. But it is impossible for the moment," Helmy said.

"Who would pay for the project?" he asked.

"At the moment, related offices have coordinated with some excavation works along Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Rasuna Said, but it is not with a duct system," Soeharto added.

In 1994/1995 fiscal year, the budget earmarked for the Public Works Office reached Rp 141 billion (US$64.09 million), of which Rp 117 billion has been disbursed.

The rest of the budget will be used on several ongoing projects, including the Pondok Gede bridge, which costs Rp 177 million. The bridge will reduce traffic jams in the Pondok Gede area, especially during the rush hour. (31)