Jasa Marga awaiting the go-ahead for JORR work

Jasa Marga awaiting the go-ahead for JORR work

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

State-owned toll operator PT Jasa Marga is still awaiting
approval from its sole shareholder, the Office of the State
Minister of State Enterprises, to start the construction of four
sections, totaling eight kilometers, of the Jakarta Outer Ring
Road (JORR).

"We must receive approval from our shareholder before we can
start," Jasa Marga's development and commercial director, Frans
S. Sunito, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

"The Office of the State Minister of State Enterprises is
still reviewing the new investment. But I hope we can start the
project as soon as possible."

The government, through its toll road operator PT Jasa Marga,
had earlier announced the project would start early in September
and be completed in 2003.

JORR's four sections in the southern and eastern part of the
ring road will cost Rp 293.7 billion (US$33.3 billion).
Observers, however, expressed concern that it would not resolve
the city's traffic problems in the absence of an integrated
scheme incorporating a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system.

PT Modern Widya Technical will construct the 2.3-kilometer
Pondok Pinang to Veteran section with a budget of Rp 84.5
billion. And the 1.7-kilometer Veteran to Ulujami section will be
built by state-owned PT Hutama Karya at a cost of Rp 61.6
billion.

In the eastern part, another state-owned construction company
PT Waskita Karya will continue the Taman Mini to Ceger section
spanning 1 kilometer at a cost of Rp 38.3 billion, while PT Yasa
Patria Perkasa will construct the 3-kilometer Ceger to Hankam
Raya section at a cost of Rp 109.3 billion.

Several of JORR's sections are already operational while other
sections of the project are to be constructed between 2003 and
2006.

The work had been halted for years due to the economic crisis.

Frans also said PT Jasa Marga would apply an open rate system,
which means a single rate would apply for the use of the toll
road.

"The application of an open rate system is to decrease the
possibility of traffic congestion and to increase efficiency.

"Higher efficiency will be achieved because we will be placing
toll booths at the toll-road entrances so drivers can pay
directly," he added.

Currently, Jasa Marga applies a closed rate system for JORR's
existing sections and an open rate system for the inner city toll
roads.

Under the closed rate system, a motorist is required to take a
ticket at the entrance and to pay at the exit gate.

Meanwhile, the head of the City Transportation Agency's
traffic division, Pristono, said he would invite Jasa Marga to
discuss the traffic management system to be used during the
construction.

"We could divert traffic or close of certain lanes from the
construction site," he told the Post.

Pristono added the toll road would not reduce the width of the
existing public highway.

"The public highway will be widened to compensate for the
presence of the toll road.

"Jasa Marga is responsible for the widening of the highway
since it is a part of the toll road construction package."

Toll-road construction in the city has caused the narrowing of
Jl. Gatot Subroto, which sparked angry protests from road users.

Concerning the budget to acquire land to widen the roads,
Pristono said it was not the responsibility of the city
administration.

"We will not use money from the city budget to acquire the
land but we will help Jasa Marga publicize the project."