Sutiyoso, Jakarta Monorail favor Rotem over Hitachi

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Jakarta's monorail project is likely to use trains produced by South Korean firm Rotem after the city administration and PT Jakarta Monorail (JM) hinted that its technology was as good as that of Japan's Hitachi.

Governor Sutiyoso said on Thursday that monorail trains produced by Rotem were relatively cheaper than others, while its technology equaled that of Japan, France and Canada.

"It is up to PT Jakarta Monorail to make the decision. I will accept it as long as it is reasonable," he said.

Meanwhile, PT Jakarta Monorail director Sukmawaty Syukur said that Rotem train-maker would soon make an offer to the company.

Sutiyoso and a number of JM executives visited China and South Korea from April 15 to April 21 to observe the monorail technology used in the two countries.

JM was handpicked by the city administration to develop and build the country's first monorail worth US$650 million using Hitachi technology.

Transportation experts, however, have criticized the project as being too expensive, prompting JM to look for cheaper technology.

Sutiyoso said the city administration had considered Japanese, Chinese, South Korean, French, and Canada technology.

During a recent hearing with City Council Commission D for development affairs, Sukmawaty said her company had expected to use Japanese technology.

However, she admitted the price of the Japanese technology was too high and that her company was considering alternative technology.

Sutiyoso had told JM to decide within two weeks which technology to apply along the 27-kilometer of monorail lines. The monorail is expected to begin operation early 2007.

JM is constructing two monorail lines -- the green and blue.

The green line will pass by Taman Rasuna, Gran Melia Hotel, Gatot Subroto, Satria Mandala, city police headquarters, Sudirman Central Business District, Bung Karno sports complex, Palmerah, Pejompongan, Dukuh Atas Railway Station, Setia Budi Utara and Kuningan Sentral.

Meanwhile, the blue line will pass by Kampung Melayu, Tebet, Dr. Saharjo, Mentang Dalam, Casabanca Interchange, Mall Ambassador, Sudirman, Karet Interchange, Kebon Kacang, Tanah Abang, Cideng, Kyai Caringain, Tomang and Taman Anggrek Mall.

JM is supported by three local companies -- PT Adhi Karya, Global Profex Synergy and PT Radian Pilar Pasifik -- and three foreign companies -- Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT), Singapore Technology Electronics (ST-Electronics) and Hitachi Asia Ltd.