T

he city administration vowed to expedite repair works on a total of 144,000 square meters of damaged roads across the city.

Head of the Jakarta Public Works Agency (CPWA), Ery Basworo, said the damaged roads, controlled by the provincial and municipal governments, have worsened traffic congestion and are in urgent need of repair.

“Damaged sections on roads contribute to traffic congestions and boost accident rates. We are doing the best we can,” Ery told reporters.

The CPWA completed repairs on 444,000 square meters of roads in the first half of 2011 and expect to continue working on the remaining 144,000 square meters in the second half.

Last year, the agency said it had completed repair works on a total of 2.57 million square meters of roads.

Ery said that the city would lay down concrete slabs on heavily damaged roads, pour more asphalt on moderately damaged roads, and patch the lightly damaged ones.

Separately, the agency’s head of the road maintenance unit, Hasnil Hasan Basri, said in 2011, the city would only work on roads under its jurisdiction. “We no longer help the central government to repair state-operated roads. The Public Works Ministry should do the work.”

Among repairs completed by the ministry were damaged sections of Jl. S. Parman and Jl. Latumeten in West Jakarta, and Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta.

Hasnil said money for the repairs would come from multiple sources.

“For projects in 2010 and 2011, we have secured Rp 75.5 billion [US$8.83 million],” he said.

Hasnil said Rp 19.5 billion had been earmarked and will be used to pay for works in the second half of 2011.

“We are currently auctioning off the projects. We expect to begin work in August,” he said.

In Central Jakarta, repairs will be carried out on: Jl. Angkasa, Jl. Arif Rahman Hakim, Jl. Balikpapan, Jl. Cideng Barat and Jl. Lapangan Tembak.

In South Jakarta, the work targets: Jl. Bintaro Raya, Jl. Deplu Raya, Jl. Taman Makan Pahlawan, Jl. Lenteng Agung Barat, Jl. Trunojoyo and Jl. Wijaya I.

In North Jakarta, repair work will start on: Jl. Bandengan Selatan, Jl. Cilincing Landak, Jl. Kampung Bandan, Jl. Pluit Muara Karang and Jl. Danau Sunter Barat.

A number of roads targeted in East Jakarta include: Jl. Balap Sepeda, Jl. Bina Marga, Jl. Jambore Cibubur, Jl. Penggilingan Raya, Jl. RS Sukamto and Jl. Radar Duri; while in West Jakarta: Jl. Jelambar Timur, Jl. Kemanggisan Utama, Jl. Srengseng Raya, Jl. Tanjung Duren Barat, Jl. Kembangan Baru and Jl. Semanan Raya.