Pulogebang bus terminal project to begin soon

Pulogebang bus terminal project to begin soon

JAKARTA (JP): Following the financial problems which have
beset the appointed contractor, the city administration has
decided to take over the planned construction of a new bus
terminal in the Pulogebang area of East Jakarta to replace the
current overcrowded Pulogadung terminal.

If everything goes well, the construction of the 10-hectare
terminal, designed to serve Jakarta commuters and intercity
passengers, will start sometime later this year and be completed
within three years.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Deputy Governor for
Development Affairs Budihardjo Soekmadi said the city
administration "is still calculating the budget for the
construction of the terminal".

He, however, stressed that the project is quite urgent since
the capital badly needs a new, comfortable intercity bus terminal
as soon as possible.

"The project was previously being handled by private
contractor PT. Rodiol Eron, but since 1997 the company has been
claiming that they can no longer afford to finance the project.

So, we have to consider the possibility of taking it over and
building the terminal from our own resources," Budihardjo stated.

He said the city firstly needed some Rp 500 billion (US$57.5
million) to purchase the required land at the planned site in
Pulogebang.

"However, we have to assess our financial capabilities first.
But, since there have been no other private developers willing to
take on the project, the city is under pressure to develop the
project on its own," Budihardjo said.

"A decision has become very urgent as we can see that the
present Pulogadung terminal is very chaotic, and we need to
improve facilities for the general public," he added.

Head of the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) Buyung
Atang said PT Rodiol Eron initially agreed in 1987 to build the
new terminal under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement
with the city administration.

According to Buyung, the company had yet to sign any agreement
with the city, but it had decided to buy some land at the site
before completely stopping its land procurement in 1997.

"The current land price in the area is Rp 35,000 per square
meter and we only need some seven hectares of land for the
planned terminal, the site for which in the Cakung-Cilincing is
currently standing vacant," he said.

Located about 5.5 kilometers from the planned site for the new
terminal, the existing Pulogadung terminal stands on 3.3 hectares
and is divided into three sections, respectively for intercity
buses, city buses and a center for road vehicle tests.

Thousands of buses use the terminal every day. The terminal's
throughput usually reaches its peak on major holidays, such as
Idul Fitri.

"The idea to build a new, more convenient terminal has been
floated since 1981," Buyung explained.

Buyung said the City Development Planning Board will be
assigned to calculate the budget required for the project and
decide what to do with the present Pulogadung terminal.

"Maybe we can use the land as an industrial or trade zone, but
that will be up to the board," he said. (dja)