Subway system for Jakarta is essential

A few days ago the difficulties that stand in the way of building a subway system for Jakarta were revealed by Governor Surjadi Soedirdja when he asked for assistance from House Commission II for home affairs. The biggest obstacle, according to the Governor, is the government's ruling prohibiting regional administrations from seeking soft foreign loans. Such loans are needed because the Jakarta City administration lacks the necessary funds to start the project.

Governor Surjadi's dilemma deserves our attention since most of us agree that a strategic approach is needed to solve Jakarta's transportation problems. The subway project, which is to be undertaken by a consortium of Indonesian, Japanese and European companies, is important in this context. If it is kept clean and comfortable Jakartans would probably use it as their daily means of transportation.

The preference for private cars would eventually shift in favor of the subway. This would be helpful since it would ease the traffic jams and reduce air and sound pollution emitted by buses, motorbikes and private cars. By maintaining a standard of service that is superior to that which is currently available on the Jabotabek commuter trains, people could be persuaded to be more disciplined. Because the frequency of the subway service would be relatively high, for example, discipline regarding the observance of timetables would be needed.

Originally the subway construction project was scheduled to begin in April this year, with services starting in 2001. This time schedule, however, will be difficult to maintain if the obstacles which the Jakarta City administration face are not removed. Considering all this it would be appropriate for us to pay attention to Governor Surjadi's dilemma so that Jakarta's transportation problems may be resolved fundamentally and on a long-term basis.

-- Republika, Jakarta