Subway plan

Subway plan

From Republika

As a former resident of Jakarta, I am very proud of the
capital's development, especially about matters concerning
traffic jams.

Sometime ago, when toll road construction was first mentioned,
several opinions appeared in the media.

The first dealt with the construction of flyovers which should
no longer be delayed since traffic snarls were increasing with
time.

Another opinion raised the subject of subway construction
since that is the road system used in advanced countries, and not
flyovers.

The first opinion reasoned that flyover constructions had to
be based on Jakarta's ground structure, which does not allow for
the building of a subway. Besides, the underground city gas and
water network is a mess, which makes mapping impossible.

Then flyovers, snaking above the capital in every direction,
were built. However, at the end of 1996, the integrated subway
plan, starting from Block M surfaced again. This time it
announced its immediate implementation by the middle of the year.

I would like answers to the following questions:

1. What is the actual ground structure of Jakarta? Is
construction of a subway feasible? What about the observation
which asserted that Jakarta's underground cable network was a
messy business?

2. Are we really ready to construct a subway with all its risks
and coordination? I fear that the subway would turn into a "water
canal" in the rainy season.

DJAUHARI TEGUH SOEGIHARTO

Pekanbaru, Riau