'Transit system needs presidential decree'

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's three-level transit system requires a presidential decree before construction can begin, Deputy Governor Tb. Rais said yesterday.

Rais said this was contrary to statements made by the Minister of Public Works, Radinal Moochtar.

Construction of the three-level system scheduled to start this year will consist of a mass transit system in the form of elevated railway track, highway and arterial roads.

Rais, Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs, said the transit system would need a presidential decree to decide which agency would manage it.

"We do not know if the Ministry of Transportation or Ministry of Public Works will be in charge of the mass rapid transit system," he said.

Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar had said earlier a Presidential decree would not be necessary prior to construction commencing.

The system was proposed by the Citra business group, led by President Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.

Another form of Mass Rapid Transit system, an underground subway system, has also been proposed to curb traffic congestion. Both proposals would link South Jakarta to Kota.

The subway project, scheduled to start in April, would be built by a consortium called Indonesian Japan European Group, led by local businessman Aburizal Bakrie. The President's son, Bambang Trihatmodjo, joined the consortium in July last year.

At the consortium's last meeting with the municipality the cost of the project was estimated to be Rp 4.5 trillion, much higher than initial estimates.

Rais said the city administration would not reach a decision on the financial proposal until next month. (02)