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Trees on thoroughfares to be chopped down for MRT project
Numerous trees on Jl
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umerous trees on Jl. Sisingamangaraja and Jl. Jendral Sudirman in South Jakarta will be chopped down from Friday night to Dec. 23 for the construction of the mass rapid transit (MRT) project.
Other than trees, utilities and Transjakarta bus stops will also be affected by the project.
PT MRT Jakarta president director Dono Boestami has promised that the company would replant the trees after the construction is completed.
'The tree-cutting is needed for big construction activity, including drilling to build the underground stations, which will begin in the first quarter of next year,' he said in a press statement on Friday.
Dono called on motorists to remain alert awareness while passing through Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Sisingamangaraja, including areas around Ratu Plaza, the Senayan sports complex, Bendungan Hilir and Setiabudi.
'These areas will be the main areas of our tree-cutting activities,' he said.
To avoid the possibility of worsening traffic in the areas, the contractor will start to work at 10 p.m. and finish at 5 a.m. every day except on Sunday, when work will end at 4 a.m. due to the car-free day program. Meanwhile, work affecting Transjakarta bus stops will start at 11 p.m.
'We realize that such activities will affect the traffic and that is why we are doing it only at night. We have also coordinated with relevant authorities to divert traffic,' he cited.
The city-owned MRT project operator also called on motorists abide by traffic laws while passing the areas.
'The company, Jakarta Transportation Agency and City Traffic Police will make sure that motorists' right of way is prioritized,' he said.
After chopping down the trees, the contractor will relocate several public utilities, including street lights along the green line ' which will be relocated to the pedestrian sidewalks ' before proceeding to demolishing the road separator. The process is expected to be completed early next year.
'We will proactively inform the residents so they can manage their activities accordingly,' he said.
Company construction director M. Nasyir said the contractor would use cranes and scaffolding when cutting down the trees.
'The use of this equipment is the most effective way to expedite the project while ensuring motorists' safety,' Nasyir said, adding that the process would be carried out in accordance with the regulations set by the Jakarta Parks and Cemeteries Agency.
The work will be carried out by consortium SOWJ Joint Operation, which includes Japanese and Indonesian companies Shimizu, Obayashi, Wijaya Karya and Jaya Konstruksi. The consortium was the tender winner for two underground construction projects.
Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo said the city would replace the trees with bigger ones.
'There's no need to worry. We will replace the trees with bigger ones like those we planted in the Pluit Dam area,' he announced at City Hall.
The first MRT track, which will connect Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, will have six underground stations, seven elevated stations and capacity for up to 173,000 passengers per day.
The construction of the track will be funded by a ¥125 billion soft loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and is expected to be completed by 2017.
