LRT systems for Bandung, Surabaya

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia plans to build light rail transit (LRT) systems in Bandung, West Java, and Surabaya, East Java, to cope with the future transportation needs of the two cities.

Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said, after reporting to President Soeharto, that CJ Lack, PT Citra Lamtoro Gung and state-owned railway firm Perumka would build the Bandung LRT.

He did not say which companies would work on Surabaya's LRT.

Haryanto said the Bandung project would cost between US$800 million and $1 billion.

"There will also be LRT cooperation in Surabaya between GEC Alsthom, PT Bina Jasa Hantarindo and Perumka," the minister said without giving further details.

He said President Soeharto wanted the private sector to take a leading role in both projects.

"The government will only give support and facilities to help the program run well because the two projects are badly needed by the two cities," Haryanto said.

The government has awarded without tender a contract for Citra Lamtoro Gung's subsidiary Citra Moda Margakencana Persada, along with state-owned toll-road operator PT Jasa Marga and Perumka, to build a 2.5 billion triple-tier transport project -- involving a toll road above a road and under an LRT track --, in Jakarta.

Citra Lamtoro Gung, a diversified business group controlled by Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, has built several toll roads in Jakarta and other Indonesian towns, mostly on long-term build-operate-transfer schemes. (rid)