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)