`River transportation? What a laugh'

Officials, experts and residents are pessimistic about a Jakarta City Council idea to create a river transportation system. The Jakarta Post canvassed other opinions.

Daly, 29, lives in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta with her family:

I can't understand how respected figures in the city administration have such dim-witted ideas. They failed to deal with flood problems in the city and now they plan to have a river transportation system? They are also incompetent in dealing with land transportation.

I'm sure that once the river transportation system is realized, people will face greater danger as they could fall into the smelly water.

Do the officials think the garbage and squatters' makeshift homes will be a pleasant sight for passengers?

It's very ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure that it will be a profitable project for high- ranking officials. The project will only benefit those greedy officials.

The fate of city residents is not the top priority.

Jose, 32, owns a small business. He lives in Kayu Jati, East Jakarta, with his wife and daughter:

Honestly, I couldn't help but laugh when I heard the idea to use rivers for transportation. I can imagine how passengers will cover their noses to avoid the stinky smell of the river.

If it comes true, all boats should be equipped with a special tool in front of them to clear away piled garbage.

Hopefully, the boats' rotors won't become tangled in the garbage or hit the bottom. I suppose the boats should also be air-conditioned to enable passengers to enjoy a comfortable ride.

I can't imagine what the transportation will be like, let alone the cost.

Dredging the flood canal has not even finished yet and the city residents keep on suffering from annual floods.

So, there are many problems including the chronic land transportation crisis, which remains unsolved. Those problems need to be given a greater priority.

Nurul, 24, is employed by a private company in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. She lives in Otista, East Jakarta, with her family:

The first questions that came to mind was how it would work and how much it would cost the city.

I wondered how the administration would improve the poor condition of the rivers. I can't imagine the money needed.

Besides, I'm afraid the project will only be susceptible to misdeeds. It seems the administration will benefit from the project, despite claims it will serve the public.

It's better for the government to start cleaning the river from garbage to avoid annual floods. Finding real solutions to cope with the traffic is more urgent, rather than dreaming up abstract projects.

I'm afraid all the residents will have to bear the financial burden once the project starts.

However, I support the idea since it will, at least, improve the conditions of the city's rivers.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.