Jakarta spends billions on ports for islanders

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is currently building a number of ports in the Seribu Islands, north of Jakarta, involving investments of billions of rupiahs, with the aim of providing better transportation services for island residents.

Chief of the city transportation office Abdul Kamil told reporters yesterday that construction of two ports, on Pramuka and Untung Jawa islands, in the Seribu Island chain is scheduled for completion in the 1995/1996 fiscal year.

"The two projects are financed by state budgets of Rp 3.5 billion (US$1.6 million) each," Abdul said at the dedication of two new ships. The new boats, called Betok I and Betok II, have a 117-passengers capacity each and were built by Daya Radar Utama at a total costs of Rp 2.2 billion. The boats will be used to ply routes between the Marina port in Ancol, North Jakarta, and Tidung and Kelapa Islands in the Seribu Islands.

Abdul said that in the 1993/1994 fiscal year the transportation office finished the development of a port facility on Kelapa Island, costing Rp 3 billion.

He said constructing port facilities on each island in the Seribu Island chain is vital, to enable ships to stop at each island and help local residents commute to and from Jakarta.

Deputy governor for administration affairs Idroes, who officially dedicated the operation of the two ships, shared Abdul's view. Idroes said port facilities in the Seribu Islands are also important to help increase islanders' welfare.

"There are 11 under-developed villages in Jakarta and four of them are located in the Seribu Islands. I hope that new ships and the development of ports on those islands can also give a positive impact to the residents," Idroes said.

Travelers who go by boat from the Marina port, located within the Ancol dreamland area, are obliged to pay an additional fare of Rp 1,500 each to enter the area.

"The city administration will find a way to solve this problem because it is our intention to create better services to the public, including the Seribu Island residents," Idroes said.

He said city administration is currently studying the possibility of relocating the Marina port to outside the Ancol dreamland area.

Abdul said the two new boats will enable island residents to travel to Jakarta in only three hours, far shorter than the 5 hours using traditional boats.

He also pointed out that the operation of the new boats is expected to attract more tourists to the Seribu Islands.

One of the new ships will be used to serve the Marina-Tidung Island route and will cost Rp 3,500 per passenger per trip. The other one will serve the Marina-Kelapa Island route and cost Rp 4,000 per trip.

The two boats will ply the two routes twice a day. (yns)