Officials defend planned bus station relocation

JAKARTA (JP): City officials here on Thursday defended the planned relocation of the Pulogadung bus terminal, arguing that feasibility studies on the two possible relocation sites could help improve access to the new bus terminal.

The chief of the planning division at the City Land Transportation Agency, D.A. Rini, said that vehicle density and the capacity of the roads surrounding the bus terminal must be considered.

"More access routes on each side of the bus terminal will reduce the burden on the individual roads," Rini said.

There are two proposed sites for the new bus terminal. Both are located in Pulogebang in East Jakarta.

The first site is 7.1 hectares in area, while the second site, owned by PT Perumnas, covers 14.4 hectares.

Speaking during a visit to the proposed sites accompanied by City Council members, Rini said the second site would have greater access to industrial estates, the Eastern Outer Ringroad and other major thoroughfares in the area.

"The (second) site is only 600-meters from the existing Cakung railroad station, 3.4 kilometers from the Jl. Raya Bekasi arterial highway and 600 meters from Jl. Pondok Kopi-Kranji," she remarked.

The plan to relocate the terminal, designed to service both Jakarta commuters and intercity passengers, was first mooted in 1987, with the 7.1 hectare site being selected as the location of choice.

The site was first managed by private contractor PT Rodiol Eron, but in 1997 the company claimed that they could no longer afford to finance the project.

The city administration then took over the project, planning to build the terminal using its own resources with completion scheduled for 2002.

Recently, the city administration has tended to favor the second site owned by Perumnas, despite the fact that the area spatial plan has already earmarked it for a low-cost housing complex.

The matter has also been questioned by city councilors, particularly as regards land appropriation at the first proposed site.

"It might be better to go ahead with the new (second) site, because the city administration must meet its target of beginning construction this year," chairman of Commission D for development affairs, Sayogo Hendrosubroto, said.

Rini noted that "the City Planning Agency has confirmed that it will require a coordinated effort to change the city spatial plan," if the second site is selected.

Rini added that the current taxable valuation for the second site was Rp 464,000 per square meter.

East Jakarta Mayor Andi Mappaganty confirmed that his office had established a team to check the validity of the certificates submitted by the previous developer PT Rodial Eron.

"We have received complaints from several of the original owners of the (first) site, who claim that the land appropriation process had yet to be completed," said the mayor, who also participated in the visit.

Andi said he would wait for the findings of the team before finally selecting a site. "We will agree to the choice which benefits the city most." (07)