City-owned property developer PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) launched on Wednesday three infrastructure projects — a light-rapid transit (LRT) network and a velodrome and equestrian center — for the 2018 Asian Games or “Asiad”.

Speaking during the launching ceremony, Jakpro president director Satya Heragandhi said the company was ready to begin the three projects to support the 2018 Asiad, set to take place Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 of that year.

“The launching of the three projects will be a present [to the capital] for Jakarta’s 489th anniversary,” he said.

The ceremony was attended by several officials, including Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, as well as the UK and South Korean ambassadors to Indonesia, Moazzam Malik and Kim Young Sun.

Satya said the company had started preparations for the LRT by clearing land, surveying the soil and finalizing the design.

The 5.8-kilometer first phase will serve spectators of the Asiad with four stops from its main station in Pegangsan, North Jakarta, to the Britama Sports Hall in North Jakarta, the equestrian center in Pulomas and the velodrome in Rawamangun, both in East Jakarta.

LRT project director at Jakpro, Allan Tandiono, said the company was now waiting for the bidding process from contractors to be finished. “We hope we will have a contractor by August, so physical construction can be started in September,” he said.

He said the company was now preparing its basic design before being engineered in more detail next month.

Satya said the project would cost approximately Rp 4.5 trillion (US$337.5 million) to be paid from the city budget through the Government Investment Participation (PMP) scheme, as well as banks loans.

Regarding the velodrome, Satya said the plot of land was ready for construction and the company had appointed London-based construction company ES Global and Australian firm COX Architecture to carry out the project.

Satya said the US$40 million project would become one of the most beautiful velodromes in Asia. “The development will also be monitored directly by the Union Cycliste Internationale [UCI],” he said.

Furthermore, Satya said the equestrian venue would cost around Rp 345 billion. “It will become an international-standard equestrian facility that will be monitored by the Asian Equestrian Federation and certified as an Equine Disease free zone,” he said, adding that facility would be built on a 35-hectare plot of land.

Jakarta was selected as the host after Vietnam withdrew in 2014. However, neither the central government nor the city administration undertook much planning for a year beyond arguing over venues and allocation of responsibility. Both institutions only have less than two years to complete all facilities.

Ahok said he was grateful to both the UK and South Korea for their help to the city in executing the projects, including the LRT and velodrome.

“We want to create international-standard facilities that can also be used for an Olympic Games,” he said.

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