Three-level transit system to start in June
Three-level transit system to start in June
JAKARTA (JP): Construction of Jakarta's three-level transit
system is expected to commence in June, amid a dispute on whether
a presidential decree is needed and the uncertainty of the
funding scheme.
Bambang Soeroso, chief executive officer of Citra Group, said
work would begin on April 21 with field preparations, including
soil investigation and drilling.
The system was proposed by the Citra business group, led by
President Soeharto's eldest daughter, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.
"The ground breaking is expected to start in June," Bambang
told reporters at a breaking of the fast gathering at his
residence Friday.
The first segment of the overhead transit system would be
built at the Kebayoran Lama Railway Station to Gelora.
The system is planned to stretch from Kebayoran Lama to
Cinere, both in South Jakarta.
He said the project would need no presidential decree.
"We will build a toll road and light rail transit system. We have
obtained the decrees from the ministers of public works and
transportation," he said. "But if the presidential decree is a
must, we will obtain that. That will be okay."
Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar had earlier said a
presidential decree would not be necessary prior to commencement
of construction.
Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs TB. M.
Rais said, however, that the system required a presidential
decree to start.
The system will consist of a mass transit system in the form
of an elevated railway track for light rail transit, a highway
and arterial roads.
A presidential decree would be needed to decide which agency
would manage it.
According to the proposal, the three-level transit system
would cost Rp 5.8 trillion.
Bambang said many foreign and local investors had shown
interest in the huge project. Some foreign financial sources had
also offered loans to the Citra Group for the project.
"We are still determining the potential of local funding.
Combining three transportation modes is something new. Therefore,
the financial scheme will be different from the projects we have
carried out in the past," he said.
"This is a huge project. We need loans, and 40 percent of the
loans may be from foreign financiers," he added.
According to Bambang, the number of companies joining the
consortium to deal with the three-level transit project might
reach more than 60. "Among them will be companies from Canada,
Hong Kong and Singapore."
Apart from the three-level transit system, a subway project is
also being planned to ease the city's traffic.
The subway project, which is scheduled to start in April, is
now awaiting a presidential decree before commencement.
The US$1.5 billion subway for the Mass Rapid Transit system
will connect Blok M in South Jakarta and Kota.
The 14.5-kilometer underground subway would be built by a
consortium of Indonesian, Japanese and German companies, called
the Indonesian Japan European Group.
Reports said Bambang Trihatmodjo, President Soeharto's son,
has joined the consortium.
The subway project was proposed by a study team under the
auspices of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of
Technology, led by B.J. Habibie.
Reports on the construction of the subway have apparently
confused Jakartans over which project will be chosen to deal with
the city's traffic dilemma.
Deputy Governor TB. M. Rais had earlier said an elevated
railway or subway would be suitable, while observers were worried
that if the two huge projects were begun at the same time,
traffic in the capital would become worse.
Bambang Soeroso said there was nothing to worry about. "We
have discussed ways on how to avoid disrupting the normal flow of
traffic with all parties involved in the projects. The subway
project would affect the flow of traffic very little," he said.
(sur)