Monorail changed to avoid disputes
Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta
To minimize losses ensuing from "social costs" from the construction of the monorail, developer PT Indonesia Transit Central (ITC) has decided to alter route of the Blue Line from Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, to Roxy, West Jakarta.
The developer has proposed that the Blue Line not pass through crowded Jl. Lontar in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, which was considered less lucrative a route, said ITC director Sukmawaty Sjukur on Friday.
Instead, it has proposed that the line pass along congested Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur from Kampung Melayu, running directly through the three-story-high suspended arcade connecting Tanah Abang Textile Market and the shopping mall across it.
Sukmawaty said the monorail tracks would be elevated to a height 12 meters above the arcade, which would also mean higher construction costs. However, she was optimistic no technical problems would occur during construction of the elevated line.
She said the hike in costs would be covered by the fund allocated to clear a 13,300 sq m plot on the original Jl. Lontar site, and the alteration would not significantly affect the construction schedule.
"It is more important not to incur social costs from the land clearance."
Sukmawaty said the proposed change was based on two main considerations: one, to avoid any disputes that might arise from landowners who would be affected by the project and two, to prevent property speculation.
She said the ITC wanted to avoid the possibility of prolonged land disputes, which could affect the US$600 million monorail project, and to prevent arbitrary increases in the price of land affected by the project.
She said the proposed new route, however, had yet to receive approval from the administration, adding that ITC executives would meet next week with an assistant to the city development affairs secretary, Suena, to discuss the change.
The Blue Line serves 13 stations along the 12.2 kilometer Kampung Melayu-Roxy route, and is expected to be complete by 2007.
Meanwhile, the Green Line serves 17 stations along a 14.8 kilometer route through prime business areas including Kuningan, Sudirman and Senayan. The line is to be finished by the end of 2006.
About 900 piles will support the two monorail lines.
Separately, Suena said the city administration had received a letter from President Megawati Soekarnoputri requesting it to reroute the Green Line so it would not circumvent the Bung Karno Sports Complex.
"I will discuss the matter with the Bung Karno Sports Complex management," he said.
The monorail is projected to carry up to 270,000 passengers daily, with fares ranging between Rp 3,500 and Rp 7,500 for a one-way trip.
PT ITC -- a consortium comprising PT Adhi Karya, Global Profex Synergy and PT Radiant Pillar Pacific -- owns a 55 percent stake in PT Jakarta Monorail. The remaining 45 percent stake belongs to British-based consortium Omnico, which groups Omnico Holdings Ltd., Hitachi Asia Ltd. and four Singapore partners.