'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)