Pulogebang bus terminal project put on hold

Pulogebang bus terminal project put on hold

JAKARTA (JP): The East Jakarta mayoralty has postponed
indefinitely the construction of Pulogebang Bus Terminal, which
was scheduled to start in July, a city councilor said yesterday.

Ali Wongso Sinaga of Commission D for development affairs said
no explanation had been given for the postponement, announced by
the mayoralty's assistant for economic and development affairs
Nasrul Muluk during Tuesday's commission meeting.

Pulogebang has been reviewed twice, reportedly due to the
higher price of building materials.

"Actually we hope the project can start soon to do away with
the crowded and shabby conditions of Pulogadung Bus Terminal,"
Sinaga quoted Nasrul as saying.

He said the new terminal was to replace the dilapidated and
outdated Pulogadung terminal, which caters for 40,000 passengers
daily and up to 80,000 passengers daily during the holiday
season.

The plans for Pulogebang terminal are based on a property
barter agreement signed in 1990. Under the agreement, the
municipality is to give PT Rodial Eron the 3.5-hectare plot where
the current Pulogadung Bus Terminal stands.

It was revealed during the meeting that Pulogadung Bus
Terminal was no longer suitable for public use.

The 57,465-square-meter Pulogebang terminal is designed to
have different lanes, entrances and exists for the city and
intercity buses. It will have the capacity to accommodate some
11,000 people.

In a related development, Sinaga questioned the violation of
land use in Malaka Raya, East Jakarta.

"The plot near Jl. Malaka Raya is meant for the construction
of a floodway to prevent flooding from the East Flood Canal
River. In reality, however, the plot was used to develop
buildings and other business structures," he said.

In response, East Jakarta Deputy Mayor Andi Mappaganty said
that some parts of the Malaka Raya area were being cleared to
make way for the canal project.

"We will take firm action against the violators," he said.
(07/ind)