Three-tier transit design needs modifying

JAKARTA (JP): City authorities have urged the company earmarked to develop a proposed three-tier transit system to modify the design to make more efficient use of the available land.

PT Citramoda Margakencana Persada project officer Budisantoso Joewono, said one of the things the city wanted was the addition of light rail tracks next to the planned toll roads.

Budisantoso was speaking at the city's Spatial Plans Agency after he made a last-minute presentation Wednesday in support of the project.

Last Friday the city announced the three-tier transit system, which includes an elevated railway and toll road, had not been included in the revised spatial plan because the developers had not submitted a detailed proposal.

Another proposal not included was the Manggarai integrated transport project. Both are being advanced by separate consortia led by businesswoman Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.

Budisantoso said Wednesday's presentation was aimed at getting the three-tier project included in the revised plan.

"We're going to submit more detailed documents on the project to the administration," he said.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said Tuesday that land use and preservation of the city's green areas should be considered when determining whether transport projects should be included in the revised spatial plans.

Surjadi said it was still possible to include them, but it would be a lengthy process to do so.

"The (Friday) presentation was part of the evaluation of the revised spatial plan," he said.

Besides land use and the environment, the city's policy on high-rise development should also be heeded, the governor said.

The previous urban spatial plan was from 1985 to 2005, while the revised one is from 1985 to 2010. Revision was considered necessary in order to meet Jakarta's changing development needs.

Surjadi said further evaluations would also take into account suggestions from the public and experts.

He said that because the two plans were infrastructure projects their inclusion would not necessitate much change in the revised plans.

Budisantoso said the company would minimize land appropriation.

"The first phase, which is from Pondok Ranji to Kebayoran Lama in South Jakarta, will be built on land belonging to the state- owned railway company Perumka and will be completed within two- and-a-half years," he said.

He said construction work was due to start in December.

The project, in which he said around 30 banks had shown an interest, was expected to be completed by 2001.

He said land appropriation would only be necessary for the light railroad's stations.

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation has called for the publication of the revised spatial plans, on the grounds that people had the right to know whether their property would be affected by the planned projects.

On Tuesday its executive director, Zumrotin K. Soesilo, urged the city to be consistent in implementing the spatial plans. "The public doesn't feel secure if spatial plans can be changed easily," he said.

The city, she said, should not allow itself to be pressured by those with political or economic clout.

"Projects which cannot be included in the spatial plans should not be issued construction permits," Zumrotin said. (ste)