Many major roads in disrepair

JAKARTA (JP): About 600,000 square meters or 29 percent of the 20.56 million square meters of the city's thoroughfares are in disrepair, head of the city public works office Soeharto says.

He said repair work was hindered by a lack of funds.

Road repairs are projected to cost about Rp 27 billion, he said on Monday.

"In the 1998/1999 city budget, however, the allocation for road repairs and maintenance is only Rp 18.72 billion," Soeharto said.

The Rp 18.72 billion allocation includes Rp 4.34 billion from the state budget and Rp 7 billion from the Ministry of Public Works.

Soeharto said roads were often damaged because of the large volume of traffic and loads which usually far exceeded the acceptable limit.

Soeharto said repair work currently being conducted in the city's five mayoralties covered only 164,501 square meters.

"It will be expanded to cover 248,706 square meters in cooperation with contractors," Soeharto said.

Roads in poor condition include Jl. RE Martadinata and Jl. Yos Sudarso in North Jakarta, Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta and Jl. Cilincing Raya in East Jakarta, he added. (ylt)