Reuters AlertNet Lite - Jakarta plans transit system costing around $1 bln

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Jakarta plans transit system costing around $1 bln

14 Feb 2007 02:22:50 GMT
Source: Reuters

JAKARTA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia plans to build a mass rapid transit (MRT) system in Jakarta at an estimated cost of 9 trillion rupiah ($992.2 million) in a bid to help reduce traffic congestion, the Jakarta MRT Project Advisory Committee said.

The committee and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) said at a joint news conference late on Tuesday that the project will be partly funded by loans from the JBIC, which includes a 150 billion rupiah loan from the bank for the first stage.

The project, involving both above-ground and underground rail lines, is still in the preliminary stage of feasibility studies by an advisory committee comprised of academic, media and other experts.

The bank did not elaborate on exactly how big its total loans for the project would be after the first stage.

"Traffic jams (in Jakarta) are getting more and more serious. In response to those circumstances, JBIC has supported development of a public transportation network ... especially focusing on the railway," The JBIC said in a statement.

The MRT, planned to be 14.5 km long (9 miles) with 12 stations running from the north to the south of Jakarta, is expected to start operations in 2014.

Jakarta, which has around 9 million people living within its city limits and another five million in sprawling suburban districts, is plagued by traffic problems.

Roads are clogged from morning till night with cars, motorcycles and ageing regular buses.

Newer express buses run along a still-expanding network of special lanes, but some say the narrower space that leaves for other vehicles has exacerbated traffic jams.

A monorail system is also under construction, but the project has suffered from funding problems, partners dropping out and general red-tape.

($1=9,071 rupiah)

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Indonesia profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• The UMCOR Hotline
UMCOR - USA

• IMC Responds to Devastating Floods in Indonesia
IMC - USA

• New homes for tsunami-affected community in Aceh
WV - International

• Future housing needs defined by high urban growth in AP
Habitat for Humanity

• Direct Relief International Responds to Flooding in Jakarta
DRI - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

• Jakarta plans transit system costing around $1 bln

• PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - Feb 14

• U.S. holds out North Korea deal as model for Iran

• New Orleans tornado, snow in US winter weather

• North Korea agrees to nuclear disarmament steps

MORE >>

Last updated:Wed Feb 14 02:23:45 2007