MRT project to start early next year, Sutiyoso says

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso confirmed on Friday that the construction of the mass rapid transit (MRT) would start early next year.

"The MRT construction will start early next year because the master plan and the results of the project's environmental impact analysis (Amdal), which are two decisive factors for the project, have already been completed," Sutiyoso said after officially opening the vehicle document service office on Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta.

Sutiyoso said the construction of the MRT was for the interest of the public who needs a means of transportation that can reduce traffic congestion in the city.

"The city has too many private cars that cause traffic congestions.

"That is why I insist we have to have an alternative mode of transportation such as MRT for the public," the retired three- star general said.

The project, which had secured approval from President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri since early last year, had to wait for the Amdal results before being allowed to begin.

According to its initial plan, the MRT will be built in at least two stages. In the first stage, costing around US$1.5 billion, the MRT will connect Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta to the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta. It will combine an elevated track and subway.

There will be an elevated track from Jl. Fatmawati to Senayan, with the possibility of an extension to Dukuh Atas, all in South Jakarta. Then it will continue via a subway to the Monas Park.

In the second stage, the construction cost of which has yet to be calculated, the MRT would start from the Monas Park to Harmoni in Central Jakarta and then terminate at the Kota railway station in West Jakarta. This section will probably be underground.

In a rough estimation made by the city administration, the subway project may save the capital annual losses of US$900 million caused by traffic congestions.

The Japanese government has given its commitment to finance the project, promising a special yen loan with a 7.5 percent interest per year. The special loan package will have a maturity period of 40 years with a grace period of 10 years.

The memorandum of understanding on the project was signed in 1995 between the central government, city administration and an Indonesian-Japanese-European consortium.

The project was postponed when the financial crisis hit Indonesia in mid-1997.

Sutiyoso said on Friday the city administration had once again received a commitment from the Japanese government to continue with the project and the funds would be taken from the Miyazawa Plan and the Special Yen Loan program.

"There are about 12 million residents traveling everyday and the MRT can transport some 50,000 people per hour, so we really need to have this kind of transportation soon," the governor said. (dja)