Triple-tier transit system delayed for third time

Triple-tier transit system delayed for third time

JAKARTA (JP): Today's groundbreaking ceremony for the nation's
first triple-tier transit system has been abruptly rescheduled
for late next month, the project leader announced yesterday.

Bambang Soeroso, who is also vice president of PT Citra Moda
Margakencana, the developer of the Rp 6.2 trillion project, said
the delay was mainly due to next week's General Session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"It is just a matter of time. Please don't make such a big
fuss about it. We're neither canceling this because there is an
'official' warning nor because of the monetary crisis.

"Of course we are affected by the crisis but we want to gain
back investors' trust here. That is why we pledge to continue the
project."

The ceremony was rescheduled to ensure the city's focus
remains on the successful staging of the MPR's general sessions
from March 1 to March 11, he said.

"That is why we agree to postpone the groundbreaking ceremony
until the General Session is over."

However, Bambang refused to set the precise date for the
upcoming ceremony.

"We are not sure yet because we have to make new arrangements
with the related parties, such as the governor, ministers and all
the VIP invitees."

President Soeharto was expected to attend the ceremony to mark
the start of construction on the triple-tier system, which is to
consist of 23.65 kilometers of toll roads and 22km of light-rail
tracks connecting Kebayoran Lama in the south to Kota in the
north.

Bambang said the ceremony's postponement would also mean a
delay for the project's physical construction.

"But technical and management preparations are still running
as usual."

PT Citra Moda Margakencana Persada -- a joint-venture company
comprising PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada, owned by Soeharto's
eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the state railway
company (Perumka) and state-owned highway corporation PT Jasa
Marga -- is to develop the project.

The system is expected to begin operation in 2001.

Under the plan, the triple-tier system will consist of four
main stations -- Ulujami, Kebayoran Lama and Blok M, all in South
Jakarta, and Kota -- and 16 secondary ones.

Bambang said the start of the project has been delayed several
times.

Last year, the developer expected to start work in June but
later postponed it until some time in December.

But by year's end, Bambang announced that the beginning of the
construction would be rescheduled for another two months because
the company faced difficulties finding workers ahead of the Idul
Fitri holiday.

Tree removal

During yesterday's media conference, Bambang also touched on
the developer's unpopular decision to remove hundreds of trees
planted by the city in Bendi Park, South Jakarta -- the planned
venue for the groundbreaking ceremony.

"We are very sorry if we made so many people feel
uncomfortable.

"Actually, the trees were not thrown away. All of the trees
were moved and are being kept in storage at the City Park
Agency's office on Jl. Barito, South Jakarta."

Bambang pledged that the trees would be replanted after the
ceremony as long as the trees were not in the construction
project's path.

"We support the city's greening campaign," he said.

"All the corridors within the project will be landscaped with
numerous types of flora to create a friendly environment. It has
been a part of our goal from the beginning of the project."
(edt/ind)