Kamal residents want access road

Kamal residents want access road

JAKARTA (JP): The people of Kamal subdistrict in West Jakarta
have urged the city administration to provide them with access to
the main road to end their area's isolation since the completion
of the airport toll road in April 1985.

Representatives of the residents asked West Jakarta Mayor
Sutardjianto on Monday to build a flyover across Prof. Sedyatmo
toll road, which links the city and Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport, and divides the subdistrict.

The mayor visited the area to promote the government's program
to develop least developed areas, known as Inpres Desa
Tertinggal. Kamal has been categorized as a least developed area.

Earlier, Fajar Panjaitan, the chief of Kalideres district,
whose jurisdiction includes Kamal, confirmed that the airport
toll road has separated three of eight community units in the
subdistrict.

Bisnis Indonesia daily reported yesterday that the isolation
has cost the local people extra transportation expenses and
hampers their business activities.

The people told Sutardjianto that they had to pay
approximately Rp 5,000 (US$2.30) for a round trip by ojek
(motorcycle taxi) to reach the nearest community health center
for medical treatment costing just Rp 500.

A vegetable farmer complained to the mayor that with the
existing bridge, he has to carry the vegetables to Kalideres or
Cengkareng market by bicycle.

"We are badly in need of public transportation," he said.

Another farmer asked the mayor to help him obtain a loan which
he needed to boost his business.

A fish breeder also made the same request to develop a
recreational fishing spot.

Jakarta has 11 least developed subdistricts, five of which
will receive Rp 20 million in aid each as part of the central
government's program, while the remaining six will receive around
Rp 10 million in donations from the city administration. (03)