Monorail changed to avoid disputes

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.