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."