•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo’s decision to scrap the monorail project will not come as a surprise to many. The project has been riddled with problems from the very beginning and has wasted tens of billions of taxpayer rupiah.

First commissioned in 2003 by President Megawati Sukarnoputri, the monorail never quite got going. Under the original plan, Jakarta Monorel was to build two lines — the first, a loop line through Semanggi, Casablanca, Kuningan, Sudirman and Karet.

The second route would have served Kampung Melayu, Casablanca, Karet, Tanah Abang, Roxy and Mall Taman Anggrek.

Pylons half constructed in 2004 that still line Jalan Rasuna Said and Jalan Asia-Afrika in South Jakarta bear testament to the mismanagement surrounding the project.

The governor now says the cost-benefit ratio is not good and it is better for the city to focus on other forms of mass transportation.

The dispute stems from the disagreement over compensation to the developer of the monorail. The Development and Finance Audit Board (BPKP) has recommended that the authorities only pay Rp 204 billion ($23 million) in compensation to Jakarta Monorel, although the latter has been demanding Rp 600 billion.

We accept his rationale but we wonder whether it will be another decade before Jakartans can enjoy clean, efficient and fast public transportation.

Jakarta remains the only major capital in Asean that does not have a modern public transport system. This is both a shame and a reflection of the bickering and ineptitude of those involved. How long will this continue?

To regain public trust and confidence, the city administration must draw up a comprehensive plan to improve public transportation and execute it.

We have now lost two decades because of disagreements and haggling. The city is on the verge of choking on its traffic and although the TransJakarta bus system has been added, it is now operating far above capacity.

Urgent action is needed to improve the city’s transportation system.

We hope the governor and his team will answer the public’s call and announce an alternative plan in the very near future.