'Presidential decree vital for new transit system'

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor of Economic and Development Affairs TB. M. Rais reiterate his earlier statements by insisting yesterday that a presidential decree was needed before the three- level transit system is constructed.

A decree would be necessary to decide which institutions would be responsible for the three kinds of transportation modes and how to manage them, he said.

The three-level transportation system will consist of a light rail transit (LRT) system, a highway and arterial road.

Rais' statements on the need for a presidential decree have been contradicted by Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar, who said a presidential decree was not necessary.

It was the Citra business group, led by President's Soeharto eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, which proposed to construct the first ever integrated transportation system.

The company plans to start the Rp 5.82 trillion project in June or July. Site preparations and mobilization of heavy equipment will be on April 21. (sur)