New telephone exchange constructed in E. Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Idroes laid the cornerstone for the construction of a new telephone exchange with a capacity of 10,000 lines in Pulogebang, East Jakarta, yesterday.

Idroes said at the ceremony that the facility, to be built at a cost of Rp 17.8 billion (US$8.13 million), is expected to enable the state-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom, to meet the sharply rising demand for telecommunication services in the city's eastern new business district.

The telephone exchange will be the first facility built in the new Pulogebang business district sponsored by the city administration. The business district will comprise office buildings, government offices, housing estates and other buildings dealing with trade and services.

John Welly, the head of Telkom's Jakarta office, said that the construction of Pulogebang telephone exchange, which will be four stories, is expected to be completed in July next year.

"The capacity of the facility, which will initially have 10,000 telephone lines, can be expanded to 35,000 lines," he said.

Growth

Idroes said that the construction of such a facility in the district will also support the city administration's program in promoting growth in the eastern part of Jakarta.

"The new facility is expected to enhance development in the new business district, thereby helping reduce traffic congestion because many people will no longer have to go to other areas to go shopping or for other activities," he said.

Idroes said the new business district is designed to cater to 1.5 million people.

Achmad Riva'i, the day-to-day Chairman of the Eastern New Business District Authority, told reporters that some government offices plan to move to the area.

The offices known to be moving to the new area are the East Jakarta office of the national land agency, city-owned Bank DKI, and the East Jakarta office of the city-owned water company, he said.

"The new business district will also be used as the new location for the East Jakarta military district command, the East Jakarta District Court, the prosecutor's office and the East Jakarta office of the state-owned electricity company," he said.

According to Achmad, Pulogebang district is being built on a 96 hectare plot of land which will be divided into various blocks, including the one for government offices and others for business premises.

Achmad said 44 hectares of the total 96 hectares have already been cleared by Perum Perumnas, the state-owned housing company, while the remaining 52 hectares are still in the process of land clearance.

Achmad said the land clearance process is being hampered by the expensive price of the land. (mas)