Toll road landowners hold out

JAKARTA: Toll road operator PT Jasa Marga has yet to complete the 1.3-kilometer Veteran-Ulujami toll road, part of the Jakarta Outer Ring Road, because landowners are still holding out for greater compensation, an official said on Friday.

Spokesman Zuhdi Saragih said four of the five landowners were seeking compensation of Rp 3.5 million (about US$411) per square meter (sq m), more than the Rp 2.2 million per sq m determined by the South Jakarta municipal administration.

"The other owner, Ratna Suminar, has agreed to the compensation; however, since debate over who owns the land is still ongoing, we have not yet paid any compensation," Saragih was quoted by Tempointeraktif as saying.

"We are now waiting for Governor Sutiyoso to make a decision on the amount of compensation we should pay to the landowners," he added.

According to Saragih, Ratna Suminar has 1,480 sq m of land, Muchlison Zaeni 189 sq m, Azhari Saat 1,814 sq m, Muhamad Pekir 214 sq m, and the owner of firm PT Biomet 4,316 sq m.

Construction of the toll road started last year and the road was expected to open in June. --JP