More busway routes to be built August

AKARTA (The Jakarta Post) : The city administration's plan for 10 busway corridors by the end of the year may come true after Jakarta Transportation Agency announced Thursday that three new corridors would be built in August.

Agency head Nurrachman said the tender for the construction of the lanes was expected to be complete by the end of this month and construction could begin in August.

The three new corridors will link Lebak Bulus with Harmoni, Pinang Ranti with Pluit and Cililitan with Tanjung Priok.

"For the lane construction we have allocated Rp 180 billion (about US$22 million) from the provincial budget and all lanes will hopefully be ready by the end of this year," Nurrachman said.

Nurrachman said his agency would ensure the planned construction would not cause greater traffic congestion in areas also currently affected by the construction of underpasses.

"We can reroute some of the traffic in several areas and give prior notification so people can anticipate the construction work," he said as quoted by the city's official website BeritaJakarta.com.

The new corridors are expected to begin operation on Jan. 1, 2008. Each corridor will have 15 to 20 bus stops. --JP