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ity-owned developer PT Jakarta Propertindo’s (JakPro)request for Rp 2.3 trillion (US$154.94 million) in additional funds has been rejected by the Jakarta City Council budget committee.

JakPro requested the funds to continue phase two of the construction of the light rapid transit (LRT) worth Rp 1.84 trillion, and to build low-cost housing worth Rp 531.5 billion.

The budget committee rejected the request out of concern that JakPro would not be able to use the money by the end of the year — a requirement to receive additional funds — as the company still needs to secure approval from the Transportation Ministry and the Jakarta Transportation Agency to continue the LRT construction.

Phase one of JakPro’s LRT project will connect Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta to the Velodrome in East Jakarta.

Furthermore, a 2014 regional regulation issued during former governor Joko “Jokowi” Widow’s administration prevents JakPro from receiving more than Rp 10 trillion per year.

Given that JakPro has already received Rp 9.4 trillion this year, it can only receive a maximum of Rp 591 billion in additional funds.

“We will just submit the proposal again next year,” said JakPro director Dwi Wahyu Daryoto as reported by tempo.co, referring to the 2019 annual budget meeting.

“It’s not that the budget committee 100 percent disagreed with giving the company more funds, but its asked that we request the funds next year instead of this year,” he added.