The Fate Of The 'Fossil' Of The Suspended Jakarta Monorail Pole At The Edge Of The Horn

JAKARTA - A number of pillars of the Jakarta monorail project that have stalled for several years along the HR Rasuna Said and Jalan Asia Afrika are starting to be seen as disturbing.

As the owner of the land where the monorail pole is attached, the DKI Provincial Government is looking for a way to determine the fate of the stalled project pole. Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, said that his party would ask for input from the DKI DPRD.

"We will immediately discuss the formulation to take a good attitude. Indeed, there are those who provide input to be forwarded, some say that the poles are removed. All of these inputs will be our consideration," said Riza at the City Hall of DKI, Central Jakarta, Friday, 23 October.

Apart from asking for input from the DPRD, Riza said that the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan will also gather all relevant DKI SKPD ranks, as well as all agencies that are involved in the monorail project including BUMN PT Adhi Karya.

"Later, Mr. Anies will invite all relevant ranks, all related agencies, we will find the best solution. Of course, that contributes in terms of function, structure, usage and of course in terms of funding," explained Riza.

The construction of the monorail project in Jakarta began in 2004. The project was inaugurated by the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri. At that time, the Governor of DKI was still held by Sutiyoso.

Many dreams have been attached to the Jakarta monorail project. At that time, Sutiyoso planned the monorail to integrate transportation in DKI, apart from Transjakarta and the MRT development plan.

Project failures began to appear after several years of construction. When the monorail pole was plugged in, DKI Governor Fauzi Bowo (who replaced Sutiyoso) stopped the construction due to financial problems.

The project manager, PT Jakarta Monorail, asked DKI for compensation of IDR 600 billion. Foke refused and will only pay according to the recommendation of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) with a maximum of IDR 204 billion. Unfortunately, this has resulted in no common ground.

"At that time, they asked to change the amount of Rp. 600 billion. Mr. Fauzi Bowo wanted it according to the BPKP recommendation, approximately Rp. 204 billion. However, until now this has not been continued," he said.

The monorail continued to stall until finally in 2013 Joko Widodo and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, when leading DKI, planned to continue their contract with PT Jakarta Monorail. Unfortunately, there was disagreement going on. Project stalled again.

Seeing this, the Chairman of the PKB and PPP factions of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Hasbiallah Ilyas asked the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to remove the Jakarta monorail pole. According to Hasbi, the poles were no longer functioning and disturbing in terms of aesthetics.

"That's true (disturbing the view). Well, it would be better to remove it if the word is also used it will not be used optimally," said Hasbiallah a few days ago.