Subway project to start next year

Subway project to start next year

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Wednesday the city
administration would begin construction on the proposed
Fatmawati-Kota subway next year.

"We hope the project, which has been postponed, can start next
year," Sutiyoso said at City Hall.

He said the city administration would ask whether the
Indonesia-Japan-Europe Group still was interested in financing
the project.

The consortium includes Japanese companies led by Itochu
Corp., European firms led by Ferrostaal AG of Germany and
Indonesian firms led by PT Citra Lamtorogung, PT Bukaka Teknik
Utama, PT Bakrie Investindo, PT Pembangunan Jaya, PT Lippo, PT
Suhamthabie and PT Steady Safe.

The governor said an open tender would be held to select who
would win the right to construct the 15-kilometer subway line.

Sutiyoso said he would meet with President Abdurrahman Wahid
to discuss the financing of the project, most of which is
expected to come from the Japanese government.

"I will meet the President. As we all know, President
Abdurrahman has just visited Japan," he said.

The governor said the land for the project would be
appropriated fairly.

"The land will be appropriated according to the market price,"
he said.

Noted economist Sri Mulyani of the University of Indonesia's
Institute for the Development of Economy and Management, however,
suggested the city administration postpone the project, saying it
was not urgent for the city's development. (jun)