The light rapid transit (LRT) connecting an Asian Games venue in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, to the Rawamangun Velodrome in East Jakarta will not be ready in time for the upcoming quadrennial sporting event, according to Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Kalla learned about the project’s progress in a meeting with Budi Harto, president director of state construction firm Adhi Karya, at the vice presidential office on Wednesday.

“There are still problems [in the construction process]. The LRT can’t be used for the Asian Games as the event will take place in four months,” Kalla said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com.

The Asian Games will be held from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra.

He went on to say that the LRT would not be a crucial part of the Asian Games because buses had been prepared to transport athletes to the various sports venues.

In order to ease traffic congestion, Kalla suggested that the committee provide designated lanes for these buses.

The Vice President added that the government was still waiting for the Jakarta administration to decide whether it would close schools during the event to reduce traffic jams. (cal)