Land row delays Pulo Gebang bus terminal project

JAKARTA (JP): A dispute over which land in Pulo Gebang to be used for the construction of a replacement for the already overcrowded Pulo Gadung bus terminal in East Jakarta should not delay the city administration's plan to start the development of the facility until next year, a city councillor said.

Secretary of the City Council's Commission D for development affairs, Bimo Hastoro, said here over the weekend that the development should be started this year since Rp 40 billion (US$4.4 million) has been allocated in the 2001 City Budget for the appropriation of 10 hectares of land for the bus terminal.

The development of the bus terminal in Pulo Gebang is expected to cost about Rp 200 billion.

"Generally, Commission D has no preferences about particular sites. We just want what is best for the city," Bimo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) told reporters.

He regretted the comments by certain city officials which had created the impression that the council had tried to halt the development of the terminal.

If the councillors were accused of having vested interests in respect of the terminal development, Bimo said the council could also accuse the officials of having vested interests in choosing a particular site.

"So it's better that we discuss what's best for the city," Bimo said, admitting that some councillors had their own preferences as to the site.

There are at least three sites proposed in the Pulo Gebang area. These belong respectively to the state-owned housing developer Perumnas, private company PT Asmawi Corporation (Asco) and private company PT Nusuno.

City administration officials and the city councillors are in dispute over which site should be developed to replace Pulo Gadung.

Gubernatorial decree No. 1172/1990 designates land of approximately 60 hectares (which belongs to PT Asco and PT Nusuno) for development as the terminal.

The decree forbids the land owners from building structures on the site since the administration is to appropriate the area for the terminal.

Another PDI Perjuangan councillor, Maringan Pangaribuan, said that apparently the city administration planned to move the terminal site to the Perumnas land because the land certificate of PT Asco, which is reportedly controlled by Asmawi Manaf, father-in-law of city secretary Fauzi Bowo, is still unclear.

"Asco's land is reportedly owned by 71 residents. The company has just paid down payments to the residents," Maringan of commission D said over the weekend.

However, he said the status of Nusuno's 10-hectares of land, which is located next to Asco's land, is clear.

"Why are we not choosing the Nusuno land. We could face a lawsuit if we arbitrarily revoke the gubernatorial decree which designated the land," he said.

According to Maringan, the Perumnas land will need an additional Rp 12 billion in reclamation expenses as the site is located in a swamp.

He also predicted that the Perumnas site would create additional traffic jams if it were chosen for terminal as it was located at a road junction.

Several councillors were invited by Nusuno's President Cipto Sulistio on Monday to inspect the land.

Meanwhile, Governor Sutiyoso has decided that the choice of the site for the bus terminal development will be made by an independent team.

"The team will give suggestions to me. The best option will be proposed to the council for approval," he said. (jun)