Japanese firm seeks to take part in MRT

Triwik Kurniasari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 02/07/2009 1:06 PM  

A Japanese company, Marubeni Tokyo, is looking at the possibility of bidding in the international tender for the city administration's mass rapid transit (MRT) project. 

"I have heard that Marubeni Tokyo is a big company with experience in MRT projects in many cities around the world, including Caracas *Venezuala*, Manila *the Philippines* and Taiwan," Governor Fauzi Bowo told reporters Friday after a meeting with an executive from the company, Singo Tsuda, at City Hall. 

"It's good to know they are interested in the project," he said, adding that the administration would consider the offer. 

He said 10 companies would be invited to the table for the tender for the MRT project. "We assume they *those companies* have good technical and managerial abilities to take part in the tender,." 

Although the basic design of the project has not been finished yet, Fauzi said he planned to establish a tender committee. 

"We have held discussions with the central government, including the transportation minister, to accelerate the start of the MRT," he said. 

Earlier, PT Mass Rapid Transit Jakarta (MRTJ) head Eddi Santosa said construction would commence by early 2010 after the completion of land acquisition this year. 

The administration needs about 4 hectares for the route from Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, to Dukuh Atas, Central Jakarta. The route is expected to be completed by 2014. 

The city administration has allocated Rp 40 billion (US$3.5 million) from this year's budget to acquire land for the depot and construction of the depot.