Pulo Gebang to be best terminal

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta

The abandoned Pulo Gebang intercity bus terminal in East Jakarta, now the site of a large fish-pond, would become the most modern bus terminal in the city and replace the overcrowded Pulogadung terminal, the Jakarta Transportation Agency said on Monday.

Agency head Rustam Effendy said at City Hall the planned 10.9- hectare two-story terminal construction, worth RP 200 billion (US$22.7 million), would directly connect the terminal with the toll road.

"Intercity buses would access the terminal from the toll road, drop off passengers and then drive down to the first floor where passengers could take a break," he said.

The agency has been trying to obtain a permit from toll road operator PT Jasa Marga for the plan.

According to Rustam, local property consultant Paul Tanjung Tan is completing the design of the terminal.

"We will start the construction of the terminal after the East Jakarta Municipality administration completes the land acquisition for the project," he said.

The terminal was earlier planned to begin operations in 2001. However, the project was brought to a halt because local residents refused to sell 1.9 hectares of land needed for the project. The administration had purchased 9 hectares of land required for the construction from state housing company Perumnas.

The City Council also opposed the plan, saying the swampy condition of the land would force the administration to dig deeply into the city budget and finance additional spending of up to Rp 12 billion on drainage.

It also suspected irregularities in the project, with little progress made in the construction of the terminal after Rp 60 billion was spent.