Land problems delay road construction
Land problems delay road construction
Wahyuana, Bekasi
The original intention of toll road developer PT Jasa Marga to
complete the eastern part of the megaproject Jakarta Outer Ring
Road (JORR) by the end of this year appears to be facing another
delay, as landowners have rejected the compensation on offer.
Seven residents of Kebantenan village, whose land is affected
by the project, have claimed they were never asked to discuss the
matter of compensation.
"Only land speculators came to us," said Taimin, whose 250-
square meter (sq m) site will be used by Jasa Marga to
accommodate the toll gate connecting Jatiasih and Hankam Raya.
Jasa Marga spokesman Zuhdi Saragih said over the weekend that
the land acquisition issue had reached a stalemate.
"No compromise has been reached on the land price. The Bekasi
municipality issued a letter in April, saying that the price of
the land was Rp 1.3 million (US$144) per square meter, which is
too expensive for us. We offered them (the landowners) Rp 500,000
and Rp 800,000 per square meter," he said.
"This is in the public interest, so we hope it will be
prioritized by the municipality."
To overcome land acquisition problems, the government has set
up a special team comprising officials from Bekasi Prosecutor's
Office, the National Land Agency (BPN), the police, Bekasi
Planning Agency, Bekasi Development Planning Board (Bappeda) and
Bekasi Environmental Agency, and it is chaired by Bekasi Mayor
Ahmad Zurfaih.
Ahmad suggested Jasa Marga renegotiate with the landowners,
following the company's objection to the land price set by his
administration.
He also suggested the operator prioritize completion of the
toll road construction in areas that faced no land acquisition
problems.
"We welcome the toll road project because it will help ease
traffic jams in Bekasi," said Budi, whose 260sq m site would also
be affected.
"We are simply seeking fair compensation. If landowners in
Bambu Apus can get Rp 1.9 million per sq m, we hope we can get Rp
1.5 million per sq m," said Taimin.
Jasa Marga has been competing the four-kilometer section from
Hankam Raya to Jati Asih and another four-kilometer section from
Jati Asih to Cikunir.
The Rp 370 billion toll road is designed to accommodate around
20,000 vehicles per day.
The JORR project was planned in the early 1990s to deal with
chronic traffic congestion in Jakarta. Once completed, the road
will connect Tangerang, Kebon Jeruk, Ulujami, Pondok Pinang,
Jagorawi, Cikunir, Cakung, Cilincing and Tanjung Priok. The
project was halted due to the monetary crisis that hit the
country in late-1997.