Regent promises road repair

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): Regent Saifullah AR said Saturday the seven kilometer road from Legok to Lippo Karawaci, which has been damaged for years, will be repaired this month.

This is the second time the regent has announced impending repairs. He initially said the work would be completed in July.

The regent said yesterday that the project will cost Rp 3.5 billion (US$1.48 million). The regency will only be able to provide Rp 2.1 billion for the project from this year's budget.

"The remaining Rp 1.4 billion will be allocated from the regency budget next year," Saifullah said.

He also said that developers have offered to help the regency repair the road.

The announcement was greeted with hope by area residents.

"Every day I have to be shaken up in the public transit vehicles while passing over the road. I have no other choice," Helmy, who works at a hospital in Grogol, West Jakarta, said.

When it rains the large potholes become pits of mud. In the dry season the road is covered with thick dust. Motorists, motorcyclists and residents living along the road have long complained about both the mud and the dust.

Large trucks loaded with soil and sand have contributed to the damage to the road, local inhabitants said. They had no idea why the regency has taken so long getting around to repairing the road.

Saifullah earlier explained that technical problems slowed the implementing of the plan. "The road which is covered by asphalt now will be converted into a reinforced concrete road. This needs proper and careful planning," he said some months ago. (28/sur)