Presidential decree sought for MRT plan
JAKARTA (JP): The development of Jakarta's first subway system is still waiting for a presidential decree, an official said.
The Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs, TB. M. Rais, said yesterday that the construction of the 14.5 kilometer underground transportation system must wait for the decree. "I hope it will be issued soon, because the construction cannot be started without it. However, I don't have any idea when the decree will be issued, " Rais said.
The city administration plans to build a subway transportation system connecting Blok M in South Jakarta and Kota in West Jakarta. The construction is expected to begin next year.
The subway's total cost is estimated at US$1.5 billion.
It is expected to ease Jakarta's traffic. Currently, the MRT's project management unit is still forming the subway's basic design, which is expected to be completed in August.
When asked about a plan to implement congestion pricing -- another road pricing scheme -- Rais said it would be implemented when the construction of the subway begins next year.
He said subsidies are necessary for the subway project, which is very costly. "Through the subsidy scheme, the subway train fares will be affordable to the people," he added.
Rais said that congestion pricing will be implemented around the areas through which the subway passes.
When congestion pricing is implemented, drivers will be charged a certain amount of money for using certain roads. All vehicles -- including private cars, taxis, trucks, buses and motorcycles -- are subject to the scheme.
The scheme may be implemented from 6.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. from Monday to Saturday, or an all-day restriction from 6.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. The administration has yet to choose one of the alternatives.
The system will be implemented in two phases: during the construction of Jakarta's subway system -- to begin in 1997 -- and after it is completed in 2001.
In the first phase, there are two alternatives for the restricted areas. The first comprises of the current three-in-one areas and Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Gatot Subroto. The second alternative is the three-in-one areas plus Jl. Rasuna Said and Jl. Prof. Satrio.
The alternatives for restricted areas in the second phase are the three-in-one areas plus Jl. Rasuna Said and Jl. Prof. Satrio, with the other being the MRT areas, which cover larger areas such as Blok M, Menteng and Kota.
The charge for congestion pricing is estimated between Rp 1,500 (US 65 cents) and Rp 3000 per day during the pre-MRT period and between Rp 2,250 to Rp 4,500 per day in the post-MRT period. (yns)