'Three-level transit system will not contradict subway'

'Three-level transit system will not contradict subway'

JAKARTA (JP): Following announcements that a proposed subway
has been given the green light by the government, a developer
planning to build a three-level transit system said his company
still intends to start the project on April 21.

Bambang Soeroso, chief executive officer of the Citra Group,
said Saturday the project, to include a toll road and light rail
transit, "is not in contradiction to the subway".

The project, to be developed by PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada
and Group, has secured permits from the Ministry of
Transportation and Ministry of Public Works. The company, whose
director is Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, set April 21 as its starting
date, which falls on the commemoration date of national heroine
R.A. Kartini.

"We are still completing the formation of joint ventures with
(state-owned railway company) PT Perumka and Jasa Marga (road
authority under Ministry of Public Works)," Bambang said.

Responding to fears of the impact of the possible simultaneous
construction of two large transit projects, Bambang said building
the Rp 5.8 trillion three-level transit system would not disrupt
traffic.

Even if the subway, to be funded by a consortium under
businessman Aburizal Bakrie, starts construction in June, the
routes were largely different, Bambang said. The subway is
planned from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota.

The light rail transit system is to be built above the
existing Kebayoran Lama-Kota train route.

So far, the planned three-level transit system is still in the
field-survey stage, for which city permits were secured January.

Aburizal said Wednesday the US$2.2 billion subway project
could start on June 1.

On coordination with the city, the Citra Group is intensifying
approaches, Bambang said. One source said Deputy Governor for
Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais urged the company to
increase coordination with the city so that construction would
not disturb public activities.

The light-transit system is planned to have 22 stops, with a
capacity of 40,000 passengers per hour and parking spaces at
stations. Fares will be Rp 1,800 to Rp 2,000.

Reflecting on the challenges, Bambang cited Kuala Lumpur's
recent experience with its elevated railway. "The largest
obstacle would be cultural instead of technical because people
would have to get used to using the system," he said.

Bambang said he would reveal other investors soon. He added
the city has not requested involvement in the project. The subway
proposal does includes shares for the municipality.

Earlier, city officials and Aburizal had said the subway
construction had to wait for a presidential decree to clarify the
city's role in a mass transit project.

But after Wednesday's meeting of investors, city officials and
ministers, Aburizal said the project would follow the
requirements of a presidential decree if it was necessary, and
would go ahead if it was not. State Minister of Research and
Technology B.J. Habibie, Minister of Transportation Haryanto
Dhanutirto, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar and city
officials, would not comment. (anr)