Sutoyoso says subway project to start in 1998

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)