MRT project to face challenge in tunnel construction

Triwik Kurniasari, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Fri, 04/03/2009 9:14 AM

The construction of the first ever mass rapid transit (MRT) project will face some big challenges, especially with the building of tunnels, said PT MRT Jakarta (MRTJ).

Corporate director of MRTJ, Eddi Santosa, said his office was currently assessing the condition of the soil and buildings where the future MRT lanes would be built.

“We need to conduct this research to ensure the project’s safety,” said Eddi.

“The construction method used to build the tunnel, for example, will affect the duration of the project.”

The tunnel also has to be able to withstand pressure.

“There might be a high-rise building located above the tunnel that has to be removed to ease the pressure on the tunnel,” said Eddi.

The company wants to be prepared for any situation.

“Land subsidence, earthquakes, fires and floodings also have to be taken into consideration before starting the project,” he said.

Land subsidence is an ongoing issue in city because of the high pressure from high-rise buildings and massive ground water exploitation.

Firdaus Ali, an environmental expert at the University of Indonesia, earlier reported the city’s land was sinking 10 centimeters a year on average.

Beside tunneling, Eddi said, MRTJ also faces challenges planning sharp bends on Jl. TB Simatupang and Jl. Fatmawati, both in South Jakarta.

“The bend is sharp because there is also a toll road, so the lane will have to be curved there,” he said.

The Japanese government - through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) - is funding the MRT project with a 120 billion yen (US$1.2 billion) loan. Acting as the MRT project adviser, JICA will also evaluate the project’s cost to make sure the funds are sufficient.

JICA said it would fund 85 percent of the project, with the state and city financing the rest.

On Tuesday, the central government secured a second loan package from the Japanese government worth 48.15 billion yen.

On March 25, Governor Fauzi Bowo signed an agreement with the government for a 758 million yen grant, which was part of the 1.87 billion yen loan from JICA.

Fauzi said 567 million yen of the grant would be spent on management consulting services, while the rest would be transferred to MRTJ as a capital injection for more consulting services.

The Transportation Ministry is due to start working on the basic engineering design in April this year and is expected to complete the design in early 2010.

The procurement process will most likely start in a couple of months and finish at the end of 2010, with the construction of the actual MRT planned for as early as 2011.

The 14.5-kilometer MRT route - linking Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to Dukuh Atas in Central Jakarta — should be up and running early 2016.

The route will start from Lebak Bulus and pass through Jl. Fatmawati, Jl. Cipete Raya, Jl. Haji Nawi, Blok M, Jl. Sisingamangaraja, Senayan, Istora and Bendungan Hilir, and end at Dukuh Atas.

About 10.5 kilometers of the route will be overground, while the rest will be underground.

The MRT is expected to carry up to 340,000 passengers per day and take 28 minutes from start to finish. The MRT will connect with other transportation services such as TransJakarta bus.

“If the MRT is ready, Transjakarta bus serving Blok M – Dukuh Atas can stop running because the MRT will offer faster commuting times,” said Eddi.