Pulo Gebang bus terminal needs another Rp 200 billion

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta

The Jakarta administration estimated that it would need another Rp 200 billion (US$21.3 million) to complete the long-delayed construction of the Pulo Gebang bus terminal in East Jakarta.

City Secretary Ritola Tasmaya said on Saturday that the money would be taken from the 2005 city budget.

"The city budget will finance the project, although we will keep open the possibility for private investors to take over the financing," Ritola said.

Ritola asserted that there would be no more delays in the construction of the bus terminal which had been expected to be operational by 2001.

"Transportation projects -- which will heavily affect the public -- are a top priority of the administration. That's why we will prioritize this project in the upcoming budget," he said.

"The new terminal will be operational by the middle of 2006."

Head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency Rustam Effendy Sidabutar said earlier that Governor Sutiyoso had told him to seek private investors to help in the financing of the project.

"The Governor has said that the many transportation projects in the city have already absorbed a large portion of the city budget, so he wanted to invite private companies to fund this project. However, thus far, we have not received any proposals," Rustam said.

To date, the administration has spent Rp 50 billion on the acquisition of 9 hectares of land in 2002 which was formerly owned by state housing developer Perumnas.

The project, which is meant to replace the overcrowded Pulogadung terminal, has become mired in controversy since Sutiyoso in 2001 revoked a 1990 gubernatorial decree on the construction of the terminal at an area close to the East Jakarta municipality office.

At that time, the councillors opposed Sutiyoso's decision to move the location to Perumnas' property because the city had to spend another Rp 12 billion to reclaim the swampy land, and the location is only 500 meters away from a military arsenal.

For those reasons, the councillors deducted Rp 13 billion from the 2003 budget allocated to acquire more land for the terminal and declined the administration's proposed fund for the project in the 2004 budget.

Sutiyoso argued that the location was safe thanks to the ongoing East Flood Canal project, which would separate the terminal from the military arsenal.

If or when Pulo Gebang bus terminal becomes operational, the 3.5-hectare Pulogadung terminal will cease its role as an intercity bus terminal.

The new terminal, which has direct access to the Cakung- Cilincing toll road, would be able to accommodate at least 3,000 Jakarta buses and 800 intercity buses.