Presidential decree sought for MRT plan
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)