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Jakarta expects British funds in LRT project
Patchwork: Workers build a new flight of stairs for the pedestrian bridge across Jagorawi toll road in Cililitan, East Jakarta, on Thursday
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span class="inline inline-center">Patchwork: Workers build a new flight of stairs for the pedestrian bridge across Jagorawi toll road in Cililitan, East Jakarta, on Thursday. Several sections of the bridge have been affected by the ongoing development of Jakarta’s light rail transit (LRT) project.(JP/PJ Leo)
The Jakarta administration is pinning its hopes on the British government in the development of its light rail transit (LRT) network given that the project’s next phase will require substantial funds.
Currently involving a British consultant in the project, city officials are hoping the United Kingdom will help with financing the project.
With such cooperation, the city would be able to continue the construction of the LRT, making it a 24-kilometer loop line from Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta to Dukuh Atas in Central Jakarta with nine lines.
The first stage of the LRT project has yet to be completed, a 6-kilometer line connecting Kelapa Gading terminus station to venues that will be used in the 2018 Asian Games: a basketball hall in Kelapa Gading, the Pulo Mas equestrian center and Rawamangun velodrome, the latter two in East Jakarta.
“We still have work to do because we want to develop more than 6 kilometers. We need a lot of funds,” assistant to Jakarta governor for industry, trade and transportation, Sutanto Soehodho, said recently.
He added that relevant British parties would come to Indonesia next week to discuss cooperation possibilities.
Commencing in January, construction of the LRT should be at the final stage of drilling and casting to make terminus station foundations this month. The rolling stock is also set to arrive this month.
Previously, city-owned developer PT Jakarta Propertindo, which is responsible for the project, faced difficulties in covering the high costs for the LRT construction, the velodrome and the equestrian center.
Requiring Rp 6.55 trillion (US$491.25 million) for the projects, the company had received only Rp 2.5 trillion by the end of 2016 from the city budget.
This year, the company will get another Rp 1.95 trillion from the administration — meaning that Rp 2.1 trillion still has to be obtained.
The firm has asked the administration for more money to cover the cost as it is reluctant to get a bank loan due to the high interest rate.
Recently, Sutanto accompanied UK Secretary of State for International Trade Hon Liam Fox and UK Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam Malik to the construction site of the LRT.
During the visit, Fox said he and Jakarta officials had discussed the potential of LRT funding.
However, he said, relevant British officials would further discuss the issue next week and make a decision.
“But I think this is a very good example of collaboration where we bring in some expertise, design and project management and combine it with skills of engineering here,” he said. “Maybe we will come back and see once the Games start and are completed —certainly if we get invited.”
Asked whether the British government was interested in other strategic projects, Fox said his government was seeing whether there was wider scope to cooperate with Indonesia.
