Sutoyoso says subway project to start in 1998

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said yesterday that the city would start construction of the long-awaited subway project sometime next year, following the beginning of the three-tier transit system construction in February.

But he said the municipality would first have to meet with the consortium in charge of the Rp 4.5 trillion (US$1.3 billion) subway project to further discuss construction, which has been delayed many times.

"The municipality thinks the project is badly needed by the city to solve the chronic traffic congestion," the governor said in Pluit, North Jakarta.

Sutiyoso said the subway project would continue even though the city had already begun work on the Rp 5.8 trillion three-tier transit system project.

"Yes, next year," was all he said in response to reporters' questions.

An agreement to go ahead with the subway project was signed by the municipality and IJEG -- a consortium comprising Indonesian, Japanese and European companies -- in August 1995.

The 14.5-kilometer project connecting Blok M in South Jakarta and downtown Kota in West Jakarta was initially scheduled to start in April and was delayed until June. No one would say when work would start again.

At first, many thought the city would decide to use only one of the two transportation systems: the three-tier system or the subway.

The three-tier system includes an elevated light railway transit, toll roads and arterial roads. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana is involved in its management. Bambang Trihatmodjo and Aburizal Bakrie are involved in the management of the subway.

Sutiyoso's remarks yesterday sparked debate among city councilors.

Councilor Lukman Mokoginta, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction, said the subway was the city's highest priority because of its effectiveness in solving traffic congestion.

He said the municipality should consider the subway project its top priority.

"I understand that the subway project needs more money than the three-tier transit system, but the city should prioritize the subway project because it creates less pollution as it is located underground," said Lukman.

Moreover, the subway project would help minimize traffic congestion because there would be less people and motorists using the roads, he said.

Lukman also called on the city to reallocate the funds to be used for the $285 million Manggarai integrated transport project in South Jakarta and the $560 million Menara Jakarta project in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta to finance the subway project.

"I think the Manggarai and Menara Jakarta projects are not so urgent for the city," he said.

But city councilor Ali Imran Husein from the United Development Party (PPP) faction, opposed Lukman's idea, saying the city was not prepared for the project due to the lack of regulations and the city's design.

Ali said the subway project was more complicated than the three-tier transit system.

"We should also consider whether the construction of a subway can properly handle floods. Are we fully prepared to build such a facility?" he asked. (ind)