Team to be set up to analyze terminal project

JAKARTA (JP): City Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday that he would set up a team to analyze a plan to build a new bus terminal in Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta.

"The team will suggest which of three plots of land being proposed by city councillors is the best," Sutiyoso said.

One plot of land is owned by state-owned developer Perumnas and is being debated by councillors of City Council Commission A and Commission D, while the other two belong to a private company and local residents in the Pulo Gebang subdistrict. Each plot averages 10 hectares in area.

Sutiyoso said development of the terminal should be started this year since it was allocated funds in the 2001 city budget.

The city administration, he said, had allocated some Rp 40 billion (US$4.71 million) for 10 hectares of land for the bus terminal.

The land is being debated by councillors of City Council Commission A for administration, security and public order, government affairs and Commission D for public works, development and environmental affairs.

Commission A suggested that the city administration buy the land belonging to Perumnas because of its authentic papers.

Meanwhile, Commission D urged the city not to buy the land since it was a swamp area and would need a lot of money to develop.

Separately, Commission A councillor Posman Siahaan denied that the councillors from the two commissions were fighting for the project.

"It's because our jobs are different, so it seems like we are fighting," Posman of the Unity and Justice Party said.

The Pulo Gebang terminal is scheduled to replace the overcrowded Pulo Gadung bus terminal, which is also located in East Jakarta. (jun)