E. Jakarta to get `passage roads' to ease traffic

JAKARTA: The city public works agency will construct passageways in East Jakarta in a bid to reduce traffic jams in the area.

Agency head Budi Widiantoro said Tuesday the roads would be constructed on Jl. Ngurah Rai and Jl. Bermis-Pulogadung.

"We'll start the construction in 2009," he said as quoted by state news agency Antara.

"We hope to have it completed late next year, so that it will ease traffic there."

The project will cost Rp 8 billion (US$730,000). Budi said his agency was awaiting the City Council's approval of the planned budget before starting construction.

The agency's road division head, Yayat Hidayat, said the planned Ngurah Rai passageway would be 850 meters long.

He said the agency would only construct 382 meters of the road this year, with the rest to be done after the land acquisition was complete.

"Jl. Ngurah Rai and Jl. Bermis-Pulogadung will be covered in concrete and hot mix, so that they won't be easily damaged by rain or heavy vehicles," Budi said. - JP